The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kebbi state has come out in defense of the state government's record on workers' welfare. NLC Chairman, Alhaji Murtala Usman, made this statement in response to claims made by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami, in his Independence Day address. Malami had alleged that the Kebbi state government had failed to pay pensions, implement promotions, and unlawfully deducted workers' salaries.
Usman stated that the NLC acknowledged the commitments made by Malami in his address, including proposals on minimum wage, promotions, pensions, and gratuities, transportation, healthcare, housing, retirement age, and workers' participation in governance. However, he said the union could not accept sweeping allegations that Kebbi workers were generally suffering due to the government's failure to address these issues. Usman emphasized that trade unionism is based on evidence, negotiation, collective action, and institutional engagement.
According to Usman, the NLC had maintained continuous engagement with the state government since Governor Nasir Idris assumed office in 2023 on issues affecting workers. The engagement had been based on collective bargaining, social dialogue, consultation, and negotiated settlement of industrial disputes. The union had raised several issues with the government, while some demands had been addressed and others remained under negotiation.
Usman highlighted that the state government had approved and implemented a minimum wage of N75,000, which is above the N70,000 federal minimum wage benchmark. He described this development as a significant response to workers' demands, while stressing that it did not mean the struggles for improved welfare and purchasing power were over. The NLC will continue to demand further improvements in workers' purchasing power and conditions of service.
The NLC chairman acknowledged Malami's proposal to pay workers a minimum wage of N110,000 if elected governor in 2027. However, he said political promises on workers' welfare should be assessed based on cost, funding, sustainability, implementation mechanisms, and timelines. Usman emphasized that announcing a higher figure during an election campaign is easy, but the real test is the capacity and willingness to negotiate, fund, implement, and sustain such commitments when in government.
Usman listed several interventions by the present administration, including the completion and equipping of the state Secretariat, payment of the N75,000 minimum wage, and timely payment of salaries, pensions, and gratuities. Other interventions included the payment of responsibility allowance to primary school teachers, recruitment of 2,568 health workers and 2,000 qualified teachers, and the extension of the retirement age of teachers, medical and veterinary doctors from 60 to 65 years.
The NLC chairman urged Malami and other political actors in the state to base their campaigns on facts and implementable programmes. He said workers were entitled to accurate information, fair treatment, decent work, fair remuneration, career progression, social protection, security of employment, and timely payment of legitimate entitlements. Usman reiterated that the NLC remained independent and non-partisan, stressing that the union would neither become an appendage of the government nor an instrument of political opposition.
Key points
- The NLC in Kebbi state has defended the state government's record on workers' welfare, rebutting claims of unpaid pensions and unlawfully deducted salaries.
- The state government has implemented a minimum wage of N75,000, above the federal benchmark, and made other interventions to improve workers' welfare.
- The NLC has urged political actors to base their campaigns on facts and implementable programmes, rather than making sweeping allegations or attractive promises.
