The Organised Labour in Kogi, on Saturday, appealed to Gov. Yahaya Bello to urgently address the issue of salary percentage payment to council workers and primary schools teachers in the state.
Chairman of the state chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Onuh Edoka, made the appeal in his address at a rally commemorating the 2021 Workers’ Day at Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.
“Our local government workers are not finding things easy, as we are all aware that the prices of food in the market today have gone up. They have children’s school fees to pay and other bills.
“What will percentage salary do in this regard. I am using this medium to appeal to our governor to do the needful, as we are very optimistic that he will listen to our cry.
“It didn’t start with the current administration, as we won’t shy away from the fact that there was improvement when Bello came on board,” he said.
The Organised Labour also appealed to Kogi State Governor to implement the N30,000 minimum wage in the state, adding that workers in the state can no longer cope with the prevailing economic situation in the country.
He said that two years after President Muhammadu Buhari had signed the N30,000 minimum wage bill into law, some states, including Kogi, had yet to commence implementation.
Edoka described the development as “worrisome and a great disservice” to Nigerian workers, adding that implementation of the new minimum wage would help ameliorate the suffering of workers under the current economic reality.
Addressing workers at the May Day celebration event, Governor Yahaya Bello charged workers in the state to continue to maintain their commitment and dedication to Service for optimal service delivery and growth of the state.
He urged the workers to rededicate themselves to their duties in order to move the state forward.
The governor who was represented by the State Head of Civil Service, Mrs. Hannah Odiyo, commended the workers for their contribution to the growth and development of the state.
He maintained that the successes recorded so far by the Gov. Bello-led administration was largely due to the support of the workers given to its policies, programmes and projects.
While urging them to sustain the momentum, and keep faith with the programs and policies of the state, Bello said his administration will continue to partner with the leadership of the organized labour in the state to address issues affecting the welfare and well-being of workers.
