By Bala Dauda, Damaturu
Civil servants in Yobe have called on the state government to restore the payment of annual leave grant to workers and 100 percent overhead cost to ministries departments and Agencies (MDA’s) in the state.
Mr Mukhtar Tarbutu, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), stated this during the NLC / Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joint May Day Rally in Damaturu on Friday.
Our correspondent reports that the workers earlier held a road work in Damaturu, culminating at the office of the state Head of Service (HoS), Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu.
Tarbutu said while the payment of leave grant to workers was suspended without cogent reason, over head cost was arbitrarily slashed by 50 percent.
Tarbutu also called on the government to increase furniture allowance by 100 percent in line with the existing economic realities.
“ The current increasing cost of good and services requires an urgent upward review of allowances. This demand is necessitated by current market forces and the state of our national economy.
“ An upward review of 100 percent to the furniture allowance will make the needed impact to beneficiaries in government,” he said.
The chairman also restated the need for an upward review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), implementation of Paramilitary Salary Structure for state Fire Service and Road Traffic Agency, among others.
Tarbutu, however, commended the government for implementing new national wage, massive recruitment into state civil service, 20 percent subsidised motorcycle loan scheme and sponsoring capacity building for workers.
Addressing the workers, Shehu, represented by Alhaji Hamidu Babi, a permanent Secretary at the HoS office, noted that it was imperative for every government to enhance workers’ welfare for effective service delivery.
He said Gov Mai Mala Buni was committed to training and retraining of workers from permanent secretaries down to messengers cadre.
Babi assured the NLC that he would forward its demands to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.