The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Niger State Council has requested for N50,000 as palliative for all categories of civil servants in the state.
The State Chairman of NLC Comrade Idris abdulkarim Lafene, stated this in his address/speech during the nationwide protest at the State House of Assembly complex on Wednesday in Minna.
Comrade Idris Abdulkarim Lafene also enumerated other beneficiaries of the proposed palliative to include pensioners, students, as well as members of the informal sector.
The State Chairman of NLC, however called for the suspension of Pay As You Earn(Pay E)tax for workers, (state civil servants) pending further review of minimum wage as well as enforcement of price control policy on essential commodities.
The Labour Leader said the nationwide protest by NLC was to draw the attention of the Federal Government to the plights of the citizens caused by removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He thereby presented the speech of the National President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly (legislature) for onward transmission to the Presidency.
Addressing the labour Unions, the Speaker,Rt.Hon. (Barrister) Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, said the Assembly has adopted three important motions with respect to the removal of oil subsidy,adding that they included upward review of salaries for civil servants, provision of palliatives and the urgent need for the federal government to open its Silos in Minna and sell grains to the people at subsidized rate.
He then commended the Labour Unions for the peaceful conduct of the protest and assured them of the Assembly’s support and cooperation at all times.
Also speaking, the State Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba called for dialogue as a way of resolving demands between government and organized labour.
Comrade Yakubu Garba who commended the labour Unions for the matured way the protest was conducted, urged NLC to be wary of those misguided elements who would disguised as Labour Unions to destroy public infrastructures,with the view to tarnish the image of the organization Labour Unions in the state.
According to the Deputy Governor, Palliatives is just a temporary measure that cannot stand the test of time, but increase in the salaries of the civil servants which he emphasized as the most priority decision of the governments at all levels in the country,including distribution of grains to the general populace at subsidised rates especially, to the down trodden Nigerlites and Nigerians in general .
End.
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