By Ahmad A. Usman
The Kaduna State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized Governor Uba Sani and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for their alleged insensitivity towards the ongoing industrial action by organized labour in the state. The strike, which has paralyzed government offices, schools, hospitals, and public enterprises, has drawn sharp criticism from the PDP for what it calls a “lukewarm response” to workers’ demands.
In a press statement signed by Chief Edward Percy Masha, the Kaduna PDP Chairman, the party expressed alarm over the state government’s silence amid the strike’s devastating effects on residents. School children have missed their end-of-term examinations, while patients are unable to access healthcare services, causing immense hardship across the state.
The PDP also condemned what it described as a deliberate misrepresentation by Governor Sani’s administration, which claimed that workers in the lowest cadre were being paid a gross minimum salary of ₦72,000. According to the party, thousands of employees and pensioners received far less than this amount in November 2024, branding the governor’s claims as “false and shameful.”
The statement further questioned the administration’s justification for its inability to implement the minimum wage fully. Governor Sani’s government cited a bloated payroll of over 84,000 employees and a monthly wage bill of ₦6 billion. However, the PDP argued that this reasoning lacks credibility, pointing to the extensive retrenchment of workers during former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s tenure and the absence of significant recruitment since then.
The PDP also criticized the Uba Sani administration for failing to capitalize on its favorable financial position, which includes a monthly revenue surplus exceeding ₦15 billion from federal allocations, grants, and internally generated revenue. In contrast, the party lauded former Governor El-Rufai for implementing the new minimum wage in 2019 despite financial challenges, as well as raising the minimum pension for retirees under the defined benefits scheme to ₦30,000.
Describing the current administration’s salary structure as “insensitive,” the PDP highlighted discrepancies in consequential adjustments, where higher-grade employees reportedly received paltry increments compared to those in lower cadres.
In a show of solidarity, the PDP urged organized labour to remain steadfast in their demands and continue the strike until the new minimum wage is fully implemented for all workers and pensioners. The party also reaffirmed its commitment to championing workers’ rights, pledging to usher in a more labor-friendly government in 2027.
“Kaduna workers deserve a government that prioritizes their welfare, not one that undermines their dignity,” the statement concluded.
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