The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has held its first outdoor rally in Maiduguri since Boko Haram insurgency started in 2009.
The NLC commended Governor Kashim Shettima for prompt payment of workers’ salaries, despite the economic meltdown and insurgency facing the state.
The State Chairman of the NLC Comrade Titus Abana during the Workers Day rally at Ramat Square Maiduguri said “this year’s Workers Day is unique as this is the first time in the past 5 years the union is organizing outdoor rally due to the insurgency”.
He said this is not without challenges such as implementation of N18, 000 minimum wage to five local government areas of Biu, Askira/Uba, MMC, Hawul and Jere, stressing that there is also need for the implementation of N18,000 minimum wage to teachers working under local Education Authorities.
Abana said “ we lost many of our workers to insurgency in the state, we lost over 175 teachers in the state, 100 health workers among other civil servants but now thank God peace is gradually returning to our dear state.”.
On the issue of the on-going verification in the state civil service, he said the state government should carry out the exercise with caution to avoid what happened in Kano where some legally employed civil servants were declared as ghost workers.
Responding, Governor Kashim Shettima represented by his deputy Alhaji Usman Mamman Durkwa said government is working hard to see that all workers in the state enjoy N18,000 minimum wage.
He said “we are concerned with the plight of workers in the five affected local government areas and we are working hard to address their plight and very soon when we are through with the verification we will source money to pay them”.
