Disengage consultants paying workers salaries – Bauchi NLC/TUC begs Gov Bala
By Samuel Luka, Bauchi
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have appealed to Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state to disengage consultants handling the payment of salaries and pensions of Civil Servants in the state.
The State Chapter Chairman of the NLC in Bauchi, Comrade Dauda Shuiabu who made the request while speaking at the 2024 International Workers Day (May Day) on Wednesday, however appreciated the Governor for ensuring regular payment of salaries and pensions to the civil servants.
“We appreciate the effort of the present administration on the regular payment of salaries and pensions particularly the settlement of the huge backlog of omissions accrued over the time”, he said.
“It is our candid view that they are making more harm than good to the system. Majority of workers are not happy with the way they operate”, the NLC Chairman pointed out.
Comrade Shuaibu further appealed to the Governor to reactivate the motorcycle and car Loan Scheme to enable the Civil Servants enjoy dividends of democracy under the present government.
“His Excellency may recall that the State Government used to grant motor cycle and car loan to civil servants in the State. The scheme which is a revolving one had a seed capital domiciled in the office of the Accountant General”, he said.
The NLC Chairman said when reactivated, the scheme will enable some category
of workers benefit as part of the Governor’s welfare scheme for workers in the State.
The Chairman who appreciated the Governor over the commencement of payment of Ten Thousand Naira Wage Award to all workers in the State, appealed for its sustenance pending the approval and payment of the New Minimum Wage.
He said that the aim of the wage award is to alleviate the current economic hardship being experienced by workers in particular and entire citizens which is intended to cover a period of six months.
The NLC called on Governor Bala Mohammed to consider the extension of service years in the main service by extending retirement period from 35-40 years of service or from 60-65 years by birth.
They opined that the extension will create room for training of the new and upcoming employees and ensure a better succession planning.
“It will also stop the accumulation of both pension and gratuity as no worker will be retired within the period, while at the same time, give room for liquidation of
accrued gratuity in the State”, the NLC Chairman explained.
He said that extension of years of service for the Civil Servants was necessary in view of the current mass exodus of experienced workers in the civil service.
“It is our belief that in the next two years the entire civil service will be lacking huge generation of officers that are supposed to be torchlight for the upcoming crop of officers”, he said.