The Kebbi State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised the Independence Day address of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Abubakar Chika Malami, over promises he made to workers in the state.
The NLC said several of the commitments contained in Malami’s October 1 address concerned issues it claimed had already been addressed by the Kebbi State Government.
The state NLC chairman, Usman Murtala, said Malami’s pledge to ensure prompt payment of pensions and gratuities to retirees did not reflect the situation in the state.
According to Murtala, pensioners in Kebbi have continued to receive their pensions and gratuities without the delays or backlogs alleged in Malami’s campaign message.
The labour leader also responded to Malami’s proposal for a ₦110,000 minimum wage, saying the Kebbi Government currently pays workers ₦75,000, consolidated with leave grants, above the federally approved ₦70,000 minimum wage.
On transportation, the NLC said Malami’s promise to provide public transportation for workers overlooked the recently launched Kebbi State Transport Authority, which the union said was established to address transportation difficulties faced by residents, including workers travelling from rural communities to the state Secretariat.
Murtala further said more than 700 housing units had already been approved for workers, with construction reportedly at an advanced stage.
He added that more than 1,800 health workers had been employed across the state and local governments, while the government had also constructed and renovated schools and employed about 2,000 teachers.
The NLC chairman said the union normally avoids engaging politicians but considered it necessary to respond because some of the issues raised in Malami’s address directly concerned workers and the union’s responsibilities.
Malami, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, had used his Independence Day message to call for greater action against poverty, insecurity, unemployment and poor governance, while outlining his vision for Kebbi under the ADC.
The NLC urged political actors to verify their claims before making public statements concerning workers and government policies.
Leave a comment