The newly elected Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Gombe State chapter has pledged to work with the All Progressives Congress‑led state administration to improve the welfare of civil servants and the general public. Emphasising that the era of confrontational relations with the government is over, the council’s new chairman, Yusuf Bello, made these assurances during a courtesy visit to Deputy Governor Dr Manassah Jatau.
Bello, who succeeded Mohammed Adamu after the latter’s tenure expired, arrived with members of the executive council. He explained that the state NLC has adopted a “jaw‑jaw” (dialogue) policy rather than a “war‑war” (confrontation) approach, aiming to create a conducive environment for work, productivity, and the protection of workers’ rights and benefits. “Days of fighting the government over benefits are over; we shall adopt dialogue in all our dealings for the benefit of our workers in the state,” he said.
Highlighting Deputy Governor Jatau’s previous role as Chairman of the Standing Committee on Minimum Wage, Bello noted that the deputy governor is well placed to understand and prioritize the NLC’s demands. He reminded the deputy governor that the NLC executive council was the first to visit the re‑elected state government and requested a reciprocal gesture: a review of the pending minimum‑wage implementation issues, especially now that the state’s income and internally generated revenue have risen significantly. Bello added that during earlier negotiations, NLC officials had considered the state’s limited funds, but now they are urging the inclusion of local‑government employees in the minimum‑wage scheme, given the improved fiscal situation.
The labour leader congratulated the governor and deputy governor on their re‑election and pledged unwavering support to the administration. Deputy Governor Jatau thanked the NLC for its support, which he said contributed to the election victory, and praised the conduct of council members during the Quadrennial Delegate Congress that elected the new council.
Regarding the implementation of the minimum wage at the local‑government level, Jatau explained that many local governments are already over‑staffed and cannot absorb the increase. He argued that, given the national economic climate, salary hikes are not the immediate solution; instead, the focus should be on providing infrastructural facilities and social amenities that subsidize the livelihoods of earners. He urged NLC officials to emphasize capacity‑building for workers to keep pace with technological advancements and the evolving challenges of the modern age. Jatau assured the NLC that his doors remain open to listen to their demands and to promote good governance and the wellbeing of workers and residents of Gombe State.
Comments are closed for this story.