Ugo Willy, Gombe
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of workers in the State.
The Governor, in a goodwill message to workers in the State made available to our Correspondent in Gombe by his Media aide, Ismaila Uba Misilli, emphasized that his Government recognizes the importance of a fair and adequate wage for it’s workers.
Reiterating his support for the workers’ welfare, the Governor also Pledged to prioritize workplace Safety as well as ensuring that workers earn a living wage.
Governor Yahaya, while expressing his confidence in the workers’ resilience and dedication in supporting his efforts in building a brighter future for the State, acknowledged the invaluable contributions of the organized labour and workers in general.
He noted that the theme of this year’s celebration, “Ensuring Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate,” resonates deeply with the efforts of his administration to prioritize the well-being of all workers.
According to the statement, the Governor is proud to highlight the strides made in this regard and pledged to continue to champion initiatives that will safeguard the safety and health of every worker.
He expressed profound gratitude to the organized labour for their steadfast cooperation, emphasizing that their support has been instrumental in achieving significant milestones in Gombe State.
He assured that the welfare of workers remains a top priority, underlined by the prompt and timely payment of salaries, wages, and pensions, as well as ongoing efforts to settle the backlog of inherited gratuity for both state and local government retirees.
While acknowledging the prevailing socio-economic challenges in the country, Governor Inuwa Yahaya called for collective sacrifice and solidarity to overcome them.
He emphasized the critical role of workers in driving industrial growth, fostering ease of doing business, and advancing key sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure.
He then urged the workers to sustain their dedication and commitment to service delivery, assuring them of his administration’s resolve to continue to cater to their needs within the constraints of available resources.
Earlier in the morning at the Pantami township Stadium Gombe, where the Governor was represented by his Deputy, Manasseh Daniel Jatau, during the Workers Day rally, the Gombe State Chapter Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Yusuf Aish Bello said the theme for this year’s celebration “People First”, wouldn’t have come at a better time than now taking into consideration numerous challenges being faced by Nigerian workers.
He noted high cost of living, poor renumeration, fuel scarcity, shortage of electricity supply and insecurity in some parts of the country among others as some of the dire challenges facing majority of Nigerians.
He stated that this year’s theme, “People First”, goes in line with the Governor’s agenda that is built on people’s orientation which could vividly be seen in some of his infrastructural developmental projects across the 11 Local Government of the State.
He commended the Governor for paying the huge backlog of liabilities of gratuity inherited from the last administration up to 2018 as a clear indication of having the civil service at both the State and Local Government at heart.
Mr. Aish Bello however called on the Governor to address some of the gaps in the State civil service by transferring some of the manpower in the Local Governments to the State which gaps were created as a result of retirements, transfers and voluntary withdrawal of service.
He called on the Governor to address with immediate effect, the implementation and payment of balance of N30,000 minimum wage before the final outcome of the tripartite committee on national minimum wage to give room for smooth negotiation in the State as well as the upward review of monthly pension for retirees of both the LGA’s and the State Government.
Among other demands, Labour also called for the filling of gaps in the health sector due to mass exodus to the Federal civil service and outside the country as well as Government’s urgent intervention on lingering issues between the governing board of Gombe State University and other tertiary institutions in the State which has directly affected its members.
