The Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress, Comr Onuh Edoka has called on the Kogi State Government to return to the negotiation table and conclude arrangement to begin the implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage.
Comr Onuh Edoka made the appeal at the First Annual Regular Trade Group Council Meeting of Non Academic Staff of Educational and Associated Institution (NASU), SUBEB, STEB, Post Primary Schools, holden in Lokoja, also said the State Civil Servants can no longer be ruled by a retiree Head of Service.
The NLC Chairman lamented that Kogi State still remains amongst the few States yet to implement the new minimum wage, described it as not acceptable in view of the rising cost of living, occasioned by inflation.
While noting that a retiree Head of Service Should no longer rule the civil service, lamented that the present HoS who had since two years ago retired, is still superintending over civil servants in the state.
He pointed out that it was ironical for the HoS to jettison the same circular she signed saying no civil servant would be given contract appointment, only to still be enjoying the same abnormality she sought to correct.
The NLC Chairman lamented that the present administration has not added value to the civil service in terms of payment of salary incremental steps and cash backing promotion in the last five years, urged for a return to the negotiation table for the minimum wage and payment of entitlements owed workers.
He urged the present administration not to see the civil service as made up of people who don’t matter, said as civil servants, ” We have families to cater for and should not been seen as just mare civil servants”.
The NLC Chairman however commended Gov. Yahaya Bello for his robust civil service reforms, pointing out that in Kogi State Civil Service today, you no longer have issues of fake certificates, age falsification, commended the administration for the value addition it has brought and the positive change through the reforms.