By Valentine Amanze
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has appealed to the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve its planned strike for peace and industrial harmony.
The governor also reminded the workers that negotiations were still on, assuring that the government was doing its best to improve the living standard of the people despite the challenges and paucity of funds available to the state.
The governor, via his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs. Mary Noel Berje, said that the government was workng to ensure that all pending labour-related issues were addressed swiftly.
The governor however disclosed that the state government has already commenced the implementation of the National Minimum Wage, while assuring that its consequential adjustment and arrears would be paid as soon as government and labour conclude negotiations.
His words:
“We are still negotiating with the Labour, we intend to avert the industrial action and we are calling on the Organised Labour to rescind its decision to embark on the strike and allow negotiations to continue and consequently conclude arrangement”.
The meeting between key government officials led by the Deputy Governor, Ahmed Mohammed Ketso and the Labour officials is expected to continue on the fourth of this month and the outcome of the meeting will be made public.
The governor noted that although 85% of the state’s allocation goes to payment of salaries, government has remained committed to the welfare of the state civil servants and would not relent until an agreement was reached.
On insecurity, Bello assured that the government would continue to protect the lives and property of the people.
“Let me also assure you that government is evolving new strategies as well as encouraging community policing to address the banditry attacks and kidnapping. We are ready to bring to an to the menace,” he said.