The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kebbi State Council, has defended the worker welfare policies of Governor Nasir Idris' administration, citing the government's commitment to improving the conditions of service for workers in the state. State NLC Chairman, Comrade Murtala Usman, made this statement while briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi. He emphasized that the government's policies have shown genuine commitment to workers' interests.
Usman reacted to the Independence Day address delivered by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami, who made several promises to workers if elected governor in 2027. Malami's proposals included a minimum wage of N110,000, promotions, pensions and gratuities, transportation, healthcare, housing, retirement age, and workers' participation in governance. However, Usman said the union could not accept sweeping allegations suggesting that Kebbi workers were suffering due to the government's failure to pay pensions, implement promotions, or unlawfully deduct workers' salaries.
The NLC chairman stressed that trade unionism is founded on facts, evidence, negotiation, collective action, and institutional engagement, rather than unverified political claims. He urged political actors to base their campaigns on verifiable facts and programmes that could be realistically implemented for the benefit of workers and the wider society. Usman also emphasized that the NLC had maintained continuous engagement with the Kebbi State Government since Governor Nasir Idris assumed office in 2023.
According to Usman, the engagement has been conducted through collective bargaining, social dialogue, consultation, and negotiated settlement of industrial disputes. The union had consistently presented workers' demands to the government, with several issues already addressed, while others remained subjects of ongoing discussion and negotiation. He cited the implementation of a minimum wage of N75,000, which is above the then N70,000 national minimum wage benchmark, as a significant response to workers' demands.
Usman acknowledged Malami's proposal to pay workers a minimum wage of N110,000 if elected governor, but said such promises should be assessed against their cost, funding arrangements, sustainability, implementation mechanisms, and timelines. He maintained that workers deserved policies that could be realistically implemented and sustained, rather than promises based solely on attractive figures and campaign rhetoric.
The NLC chairman listed several interventions by the present administration, including the completion and equipping of the state Secretariat, implementation of the N75,000 minimum wage, and the regular payment of salaries, pensions, and gratuities. He also cited the payment of responsibility allowances to primary school teachers, the recruitment of 2,568 health workers, and the employment of 2,000 qualified teachers as measures taken by the administration to strengthen the state workforce.
Usman reiterated the NLC's independence and non-partisan position, stressing that the union would neither become an appendage of government nor an instrument of political opposition. He urged Malami and other political actors to base their campaigns on verifiable facts and programmes that could be realistically implemented for the benefit of workers and the wider society.
Key points
- The Kebbi State NLC chairman, Comrade Murtala Usman, defends Gov. Idris' worker welfare policies, citing implementation of N75,000 minimum wage and other interventions.
