By: Valentine Adese (JP),
The Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong has called on workers in the state to review the era of his predecessor, Sen. Jonah Jang and the non-payment of salaries of workers in Benue, Kogi among other states in the federation and see if there would not be reason(s) to thank him and his administration in Plateau State in the past 7 years.
The Governor, who put this charge to celebrating workers on May Day during his speech at the Wrang Pam Township Stadium yesterday, also prayed that the incoming administration of Mutfwang Caleb (Esq) under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), does not return the workers and the state back to the Industrial Dark Days.
He said that, the priority of his administration has been the welfare of workers and, “If Salary Payment is not an achievement, what will non-payment be?”
According to Lalong, “half of the Governors in the federation as it stands today cannot stand in front of their state’s Labour Unions, but here am I.
“Some say, Salary payment is not an achievement so, non-payment means what? I am not perfect, but whatever I have done for workers among other things is owing to the privilege of God.
“What I will do to settle and resolve issues of workers in the state, I will also do before quitting office on May 29.
“The Pension of Governors was signed into Law in 2008 by the then Governor Jang. I could not implement it because of workers huge salary arrears. As you must know, I refused to implement it because of this reason and this is why the former Governors are fighting me”.
“I will however assure you that, before I leave, the salary structure of Teachers will be domesticated in Plateau State”.
It is of note that, this year’s workers Day is being jointly celebrated by the NLC and TUC. The celebration is being marked at a time Nigeria workers are going through harsh economic realities orchestrated by the Federal Government of Nigeria’s policy to redesign the naira and the process of transiting from one civilian administration to another in a democratic Government.
The theme for this year’s workers’ Day celebration is tagged: “Worker’s Rights and Socio-economic Justice”
According to the Plateau State NLC Chairman, Comrade Eugene Manji, “The theme has been carefully chosen bearing in mind the difficult situation Nigeria workers are experiencing”.
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