The organised labour, has lauded the Kogi State government for paying December 2018 and January 2019, salaries and pensions to its workers and pensioners.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in a statement jointly signed by their state chairmen, Mr. Onu Edoka and Mr. Ranti Ojo, respectively, and issued in Lokoja on Sunday, said the payment of the two months salaries and pensions would bring a huge relief to the people.
They however, appealed to the government not to relent in clearing the arrears of salaries and pensions as there were many more months outstanding.
“The payment of the two months salary arrears to workers and pensioners would go a long way to reduce the suffering of the workers and pensioners.
“We appeal to the state government to sustain the current tempo of payment to enable it settle all outstanding salary arrears in due course,” they said.
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The labour leaders also appealed for an improvement in the percentage of salary being paid to teachers and local government workers, saying any percentage short of what was agreed with Labour would not be acceptable.
While pledging Labour’s unalloyed loyalty to the government, the duo, however, stressed that Labour’s main concern remained the welfare and well- being of workers and pensioners.
Meanwhile, the leaders extended their congratulations to President Muhammadu Buhari on his successful inauguration for a second term in office, while appealing to the Federal Government to release the N30.8billion balance of the bailout fund to the state government.
Edoka and Ojo contended that the quick release of the fund, would aid the state government in meeting its obligations to workers and pensioners in the state.