We’ll remain committed to your welfare, Gombe gov assures workers

Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, has assured civil servants in the state that his administration will continue to work towards repositioning the civil service for better efficiency and improved service delivery charging the workers to exhibit commitment and dedication to duty.

The Governor stated this in his address to the workers during this year’s International Workers’ Day Celebration held at the Pantami Township Stadium, Gombe, on Saturday.

The Governor who described the theme for this year’s workers day celebration, “COVID–19 Pandemic, Social and Economic Crisis: Challenges for Jobs, Social Protection and Peoples Welfare”, as apt and timely, said this is so because of the significant labour, economic and social disruptions caused by the pandemic.

He noted that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated measures such as lockdown have led to the loss of jobs, transition to remote work and productivity losses.

According to him, Governments all over the world are experiencing an economic downturn and are struggling to pay salaries and meet the welfare needs of their workers.

However, Inuwa said: “In Gombe State, we have been able to continue the payment of salaries to workers and monthly pension to retirees as at when due.

“Moreover, we are also able to pay billions of naira to settle outstanding pensions and gratuities inherited from the previous administration. Our intention is to clear all outstanding pensions and gratuities because we believe that our civil servants deserve to live in comfort and dignity after retirement.”

He commended the leadership of the organised labour for their resilience as well as support and cooperation on issues affecting workers and the general progress of the state.

Inuwa Yahaya said that in the administration’s efforts towards repositioning the civil service for better efficiency and improved service delivery, saying, “we have established the Bureau of Public Service Reforms to spearhead the transformation of our civil service. We are also embarking on ambitious housing projects to cater for the welfare needs of our civil servants.”

He acknowledged the challenges affecting workers in the state, noting that since the assumption of office, his administration has been working with the NLC leadership on how to better improve the welfare and working conditions of the state’s civil servants.

The Governor then called on civil servants to demonstrate commitment and dedication in the discharge of their responsibilities, saying, Government will not condone the culture of laziness and ineptitude that characterised the service over the years.

Speaking earlier, Gombe State chapter chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Muhammad Adamu Musa, lauded the Governor for the prompt payment of workers salaries and pensions as well as the restoration of the 30,000 minimum wage to workers in the state which was earlier suspended due to a dip in the economy occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also praised the Governor for the release of 1.5 billion naira and the 775 million naira respectively for the payment of first and second tranches of gratuities arrears to retired civil servants in the state.

He then appealed to the Governor to consider the extension of the 30,000 minimum wage to Local Government workers in the state.

Highlights of the occasion include match pass by the industrial unions and cultural performances.

It will be recalled that the State Commissioner of Finance, Muhammad Gambo Magaji, had earlier announced that no fewer than 668 workers in Gombe State have been suspended from the payroll following the commencement of the implementation of biometrics.

He said that the affected workers did not show up for verification after the commencement of the enrollment, hence their suspension from the payroll saying that 431 workers from the 84 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the state were affected.

He also said that the biometrics had been piloted in two local governments – Gombe and Akko – and also in the Local Education Authority (LEA) of both local governments.

According to him, in Gombe LG, a total of 103 staff didn’t show up for the biometrics comprising 44 LG staff and 59 LEA staff as contained in a statement by Ismaila Uba Misilli Director-General, ( Press Affairs) Government House.

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