The Bauchi state governor, Bala Mohammed, has urged the organised labour to reason with the federal government’s decision to remove fuel subsidy, saying it is for the good of the country.
The governor, who was speaking at the swearing in of the caretaker chairmen of the 20 local government areas in the state at the Multi-Purpose Indoors Hall, pleaded with labour to support the decision despite the hardship it has caused.
“These are hard times arising from the removal of subsidy, certainly it is bringing a lot of pain to Nigerians but we urge our organized labour to understand that this is for good.
“We have really bought into the government initiative to remove the subsidy because we believe it was a waste, we believe it was not sieving the common man.
“As Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen, you should judiciously use the palliative measures that would accrue to the councils as a removal of subsidy. You also must come up with your own initiatives with palliatives that will touch the people, that will reduce the hardship of the people,” he said.
Governor Bala assured civil servants in the state that his administration would continue to pay salaries as at when due.
“We will continue to give promotions to civil servants at the state and local government levels, we will continue to pay minimum wage and arrears of promotions from consequential increases.
“We are the only state in this part of this country that is doing that and we have the pride to do that, we are paying pension but still it is not uhuru,” he added.
