Speaking, chairman of the Council, Yusuf Bello, who took over from Mohammed Adamu, following the expiration of his tenure made the disclosure during a familiarisation visit to the Deputy Governor’s office, with members of the state council.
Bello disclosed the desire to continue to dialogue with the state government in pursuit of a conducive atmosphere of work and productivity as well as for the rights and benefits of workers.
“Days of fighting the government over benefits are over, we shall adopt dialogue in all our dealings with the government for the benefit of our workers in the state,” Bello said.
The NLC chairman recalled that the deputy governor, Dr Manassah Jatau, who presided over the minimum wage negotiation in the past is the chairman standing committee on minimum wage and stood in a better position to appreciate their visit and understand them better, hence, being the first to be visited in the circle of government.
He requested the deputy governor to revisit the issues of implementation of minimum wage that were pending since there is now a remarkable increase in the income and the internally generated revenue accruable to the state.
He added that “the officials of NLC in the state had, during the negotiation in the past, considered the unfortunate position of the state funds having been shown the totality of the income, then, and are now pleading for the inclusion of the local government employees in the minimum wage payment since there is an appreciation.”
Bello congratulated the governor, his deputy for their re-election, pledging their unalloyed support to the administration.
Responding, the deputy governor appreciated the visit and the support given by the workers in the state to ensure their re-election.
He commended the manner in which the members conducted themselves during their Quadrennial Delegate Congress when the new council was elected.
On issues bordering the minimum wage implementation at the local government level, Jatau explained that most of the local governments are overloaded with workers and as such cannot shoulder the increase, if implemented.
He said, “Considering the state of the nation’s economy, increase in salaries is not the immediate solution but, provision of infrastructural facilities and social amenities aimed at subsidising the livelihood of the salary earners is the solution.”
Jatau called on the NLC officials to insist on capacity building of the workers in view of the technological advancement of this age so that they may blend well with the new changes and challenges.
He assured them of always leaving his door open to welcome and listen to them towards good governance and well being of workers and the residents of Gombe state.
