Kebbi Will Pay Minimum Wage, Idris Assures Govt Workers
From Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi
Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, has assured civil servants in the State of his administration readiness to implement payment of new minimum wage as soon as it is approved by the Federal Government .
The Governor said a committee has been set up to work out payable and affordable minimum wage for workers in the state, adding that the committee would include the SSG, the Head of Service and the organised Labour in the State.
“I have instructed the Head of Service and Secretary to the State Government to hold consultations with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to fashion out affordable minimum wage that would put smile on the faces of workers.
” I intend to put Kebbi state in the first category with the best welfare for the workforce,” he said.
The Governor urged workers to rededicate themselves to hard work and uphold the existing harmony between workers and the government.
He also announced that his administration would recruit 2,000 qualified teachers with the requisite teaching qualification of National Certificate on Education (NCE) and Bachelor of Education to teach in schools towards the attainment of quality education.
“I will also offer automatic employment to students of Kebbi state origin studying Medicine in and outside the country.
” And also make up for the shortfall in remunerations of doctors in our hospitals to stop them from leaving the service for greener pastures,” he said.
Governor Idris also explained that his administration has been paying worker’s salaries, pensions and gratuities without any delay on 24 or 25 of every month.
He stressed that his administration was about to complete State Secretariat which would accommodate all ministries and government agencies in the state.
He said that about N986million has been paid as School fees for indigene students across the state, N995 million paid to get withheld results of students while over N501 million paid to settle the school fees of students studying in India and Egypt respectively.
Idris said,his administration would offer automatic employment to the students studying Medicine into the State Civil service immediately on completion of their courses, he charged workers to be absolute loyal, dedicated and committed to their duties.
The governor commended the leadership of the NLC for giving him special award in recognition of his contribution to the labour movement as a veteran unionist while similar award was presented to the National President of NLC, Joe Ajero.
Earlier, the state Chairman of the NLC, Alhaji Murtala Usman, appealed to the governor to fulfill his promise of being the first governor to implement a new minimum wage when approved by the Federal Government.
” We appeal to the governor to find solution to the implementation of circulars and promotions approved by the governor to the relevant ministries that are yet to effect changes especially Ministries of Finance and Health,” he said.
Usman requested the governor to order the provision of CNG buses and resuscitate the state transport authority.
The chairman commended Gov. Idris for working with the trade unions and workers in the state to ensure the prevalence of industrial harmony.
