NLC call on Bauchi Gov to  pay outstanding benefits of retired workers 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Bauchi State chapter, has called on Governor Bala Mohammed to upset outstanding balance of retirement benefits to ease the suffering of retired workers.

Chairman of the NLC in the state, Comrade Danjuma Saleh, made the call at the opening ceremony of the 23 Delegate conference held at Command Guest House, Bauchi, on Tuesday.Although Saleh, who was represented by 

Dauda Shuaibu, Chairman of Joint Negotiations Council (JNC) commended the Governor for paying part of the 

retirement benefits, he appealed! for the balance to be paid timely to ease the sufferings of the affected  retirees.

The backlog of retirement benefits inherited from previous administrations runs into billions of naira, with many yet to get their benefits years after retirement.

“It is a source of pride for one to serve his fatherland and be compensated at the end of his career so as to ease his life and that of his dependents’ the NLC Chairman said 

He described the relationship between Governor Bala Mohammed and the organised labour in the state as cordial, saying it has resulted in the continuous existence of industrial peace and harmony. 

He appealed to the governor to sustain the cordial relationship.

“The recent renovation and upgrading of Abubakar Umar State Secretariat and provision of state of the art furniture and equipment in our offices as well as all Local Government Secretariats across the State is an effort towards providing a conducive working environment for our members/workers 

 and therefore worthy of commendation,” he said.

The State Delegate Conference was attended by government functionaries, dignitaries, labour veterans, and the National Returning Officer from the NLC Headquarters, Abuja.

Others were the TUC, civil society organizations, market leaders, farmers groups, artisans to the State Delegate Conference of the NLC.

He said the State Delegate Conference, which is holding simultaneously across the 36 States of the Federation, is the highest organ of NLC decision making in the State that enable members to converge once in four years.

“It is an opportunity for members and other critical stakeholders to review, re-assess, reflect and appraise the performance of the leaders with a view to chart a new course for the Congress through a fresh mandate for a new set of leadership to pilot the affairs of the Congress for a term of four years,” he said.

On the forthcoming Governorship and State Assembly Elections, the NLC Chairman called on workers in the state  on to go out and cast your votes, advising them.to maintain decorum.

“You must avoid anything that will bring disrepute to the Service of our State Labour is a partner in progress that is always interested in development and peaceful progress of the State,” he said.

In his remark, the Head I’d Service, Yahuza Adamu Haruna, said the State government has tried its best to ameliorate the situation of workers in the state and urged them to reciprocate the gesture by putting in their best in their jobs.

In his remark, Governor Mohammed said his administration has carried out many policies in the service that benefitted workers and improved conditions of service in the state.

He said among others, the administration has began implementation of adjustment of National Minimum Wage, procured vehicles  for Permanent Secretaries, released millions of naira  as financial support to various unions in the state to cement the relationship.

Mohammed said the administration has always employed.new workers to fill vacancies in the service as well as facilitated the employment of over 2500 indigenes of the state into the military and para military organisations to reduce youth unemployment.