By joshua 
The Kogi State Wing of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commended the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in North Central Nigeria, for the regular payment of workers’ Salaries in the state.
Addressing workers in the state to mark this year’s International Workers’ Day celebration, Kogi State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Gabriel Amari, Governor Bello’s administration has consistently ensured regular payment of workers’ salaries in the face of persistent workers’ demand for improvement in wages and allowances of both public and private sector workers in the state.
The NLC Chairman urged the state government to sustain full salary payment to the workers in Kogi State as it has helped greatly to reduce economic pressure to their families.
“The organized Labour in the state commend Governor Yahaya Bello on his successes in the area of security, his protection of workers social and economic right is in line with the theme of this year’s ‘Workers’Day’ celebration as it is the panacea for peace and sustainable security of our State.
“The state NLC urge workers to sustain commitment to service delivery as it has helped improved governance in the state.
We call on the state government to review the establishment law of Kogi State primary health care development agency as it will bring the primary health care workers in the state under one roof for ‘efficiency and fairness.”
The State NLC also commended Governor Yahaya Bello for the government’s donation to the completion of the Kogi State Labour House Project among several other government assistance to the labour Congress.
“As we move closer to our Governorship election in November, Kogi State NLC urge workers in the state to vote in Candidates that will bring good governance and friendly business environment to the state in the best interest of workers in Kogi State.”
Kogi State Head of Civil Service, Mrs Hannah Odiyo, spoke on the need for the state government to prioritize an Owner-Occupier housing scheme for the Civil Servants in the state adding that lack of ‘affordable accommodation’ is a major economic stress to the civil servants as she calls on Governor Yahaya Bello to build housing estates for public sector workers in the state.
Secretary to Kogi State Government, Folashade Ayoade, says in spite of the over-bloated workforce in the state civil service, the government has continued to accord priority to workers’ welfare even in the face of scarcity of resources, and thanked the workers and NLC in the state for friendly and peaceful Government-Labour relations, as she promised continued collaboration with the labour union in the state to improve workers’ standard of living.
The high point of the May Day celebration was the call for a new minimum wage for local government workers and the harmonization of pensions in the state.
There was match pass and competitions by various contingents of the affiliate trade unions that participated in the International Workers’ Day celebration in Kogi State.