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By Dauda R. Pam, Maiduguri
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Borno State chapter has demanded for an upward review and prompt payment of retired workers’ pensions and gratuity to cushion the effects of socio economic challenges being faced by retirees.
The NLC Chairman, Comrade Bulama Abiso made the appeal, Saturday, to mark the 2021 May Day Celebration with the theme: “COVID-19 pandemic, Social and Economic Crisis: Challenges for Jobs, Social Protection and People’s social Welfare.”
He said, “This year’s May day has come with series of challenges, particularly COVID-19 pandemic which has killed over three million people globally.
According to him,promotional benefits,annual increments and other basic rights due to civil servants can not be over emphasized to take serve as social security for economic development.
He argued that, “as workers demand for better working conditions and standards of living, pensions and gratuity payments are to be reviewed and implemented. He noted that the current rate being paid as pension, has been rendered obsolete by inflation and other economic realities as most of the pensioners could not afford the school fees of their children, rents and medical bills accrued from hospitals”.
Adding that ,“The state government should look into the possibility of reviewing the monthly releases of N100 million for gratuity payments to retirees. He said the state government should also address the issue of payment of workers’ salaries with Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and appealed for the implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage for Local Government and Education Authority staff.
The implementation of the minimum wage,he said, will boost workers’ morale and productivity. “Equally worrisome is the implementation committee on LGS/LEA reports, which resulted in with-holding workers salaries for nine months”.
Comrade Bulama Abiso, therefore,warned that it will aggravate the insecurity situation in insurgency affected communities,just as he appealed for the immediate reinstatement of sacked workers that have genuine cases.
“Promotion of workers is never a privilege; but a right,” noting that every worker is entitled to be promoted, provided the necessary criteria are met.
The earlier decision taken by Government on suspending all promotions should be reconsidered as the period of the suspension has elapsed,” he declared.
In his remarks, the Head of Service, Simon Malgwi, who represented the Governor pledged to provide a conducive working environment for all civil servants.
As a mark of concern to the welfare and conduicive working environment, the HOS hinted that,a high powered committee to address issues of non promotion of workers is underway adding that, the Musa Usman Secretariat complex is also undergoing renovations.
