By Sadiq Abubakar
Maiduguri
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), while marking the 2015 May Day, urged Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno state to accord top priority to workers’ welfare and demands with the successful election of APC government in the state.
Comrade Titus Abana, the Borno state council chairman of the NLC, who made the call at the celebration of workers’ day in Maiduguri, said government must ensure full implementation of all workers’ demands in view of the cordial working relationship that had existed between the two bodies.
According to him: “May Day is equally important to workers, therefore, we decided to join our colleagues nationwide to commemorate the day despite the security challenges.
“The people of Borno have benefited from government’s programmes and policies, which include education, transportation, housing, road construction, water supply, electrification and security among others.
“But we want you to focus on the workers demands, which include full implementation of the minimum wage, allowances for local government staff and primary school teachers”, Titus added.
“We want you to upgrade the infrastructure at Musa Usman Secretariat with provision of office furniture and other equipment to enhance working environment conducive for our workers. We also want you to pay outstanding 10 and 30 per cent CONHESS for health workers and local government workers,” Abana said.
In his remark, said the state government was determined to address workers’ problems and meet their demands despite the differences that exist between the government, the labour union should be understanding.
The governor, who was represented by Alhaji Zannah Mustapha, the deputy governor, said that the state government had met most of its workers’ demands, which include prompt payment of salaries and yearly increment, implementation of N18, 000 minimum wages to workers.