See government as partner not antagonist, Kogi tells workers

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has asked the organised labour in the state to see the government as a partner in progress and not an antagonist.

Bello, who stated this at the 2022 Workers’ Day event at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, Lokoja, promised to give workers and pension their due.

The governor thanked the workers for their commitment to industrial harmony, appreciated them for their understanding, patience and sacrifice.

Pointing out that he remained a strong advocate of better pay for workers, Bello noted that he was among the first governors to implement the new minimum wage for workers.

He acknowledged the payment of percentage salaries to workers at the local council level, explaining that the problem arose from over-staffing and low allocation.

Having paid full salaries to workers in the state, the same would be extended to local council workers as soon as allocation improves, he added.

Bello dispelled the rumour that the state government was planning retrenchment or downsizing of its workforce, expressing sympathy with Nigerians and workers over cost of living since 2019 and assured them of succour in the coming days.

He promised a resuscitation of the car refurbishing loan for civil servants, and that benefitting workers would get N500,000 each.

Earlier, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ranti Ojo, who spoke on behalf of labour, listed the problems of workers to include non-cash backing of promotions, outstanding leave allowances, outstanding 30 per cent of February 2022 salary and percentage salary payment at the local council level.

He called on the state government to look into the plight of the retirees by promptly paying their gratuities.