By Abubakar Hassan
Niger State government has assured workers in the state of its readiness to implement the new national minimum wage when the template is ready and with the availability of fund.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Yakubu Garba made this disclosure on Wednesday, when he declear open the elective congress of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Niger state chapter, held at the Doko International Hotel, Minna.
He said the state government has no problem in implementing the new national minimum wage once the template is ready and with availability of fund.
"The issue of minimum wage that is coming is a done deal already, we are only waiting for it. As far as funds are available the Governor will not hesitate to ensure that we implement it in Niger State. Mark my point, provided the funds are available and I have no doubt that as far as funds are available my principal would not to address the issue of minimum wage in Niger State," Comrade Garba explained.
Comrade Garba urged unions to be pro-government instead of anti-government for the progress of the state, saying the administration of Farmer Governor Mohammed Umar Bago have done alot to earn the trust of the organized labour in the state, as well as the state populace.
He added that the health sector in the state is one of the top priority of the present administration, hence the creation of two Ministry in the sector, with both commissioners and permanent secretaries of the ministries being health professionals.
Comrade Garba added that the present administration under the leadership of Farmer Governor Umar Bago has defrayed the backlog of salaries it inherited, saying the workers have less to agitate for ad regards to welfare.
He also appreciated the fact that members of MHWUN in the state were still united and peaceful the way he left them, saying it was a happy moment for him and urged the leadership of the union to make the interest of the people number one in their priority list.
In his remarks, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulkarim Idris Lafene said MHWUN is one of the leading unions NLC holds dearly and urged members of the union to elect credible leaders for the union who will support NLC struggles.
He expressed optimism that with Comrade Yakubu Garba as the number two citizen in the state, NLC will have a smooth sail on the issue of the new minimum wage, adding that they will continue to raise their voices on the issue of fuel price and electricity tariff hike which were part of the challenges the organize labour was currently faced with in the country.
In their separate goodwill messages, the state commissioners for primary healthcare, Dr. Ibrahim Dangana and that of secondary and tertiary health, Dr. Tukur Mohammed observed that members of MHWUN were vanguards in curtailing any health challenges in the state, and that it was in recognition of their services that the Farmer Governor created two Ministry for the health sector in the state, promising to provide conducive atmosphere for the health workers to practice.
In his remarks also, the National President of MHWUN, Comrade Kabir Ado Sani, represented by an elder of the union who was also the returning officer, Comrade Ibrahim Sokoto Jibrin, charged the union leaders to acquire leadership skills and lead by example, adding that the leadership of the union will continue to fight for the welfare of its members.
While congratulating the outgone executive members for the achievements recorded under their leadership, the MHWUN National President also urged the new executive to work closely with the state NLC to ensure that their members at local government benefit from the new national minimum wage.
Earlier in his address, the state chairman of MHWUN Comrade Abdullahi A. Erena said the union in the recent past was faced with alot of challenges but we're able to weather the storm, and appreciated the Niger state government and the deputy governor in particular for their support to the union. He equally appreciated the executive of the union at both the state and the local government areas, as well as partners of the union, saying their partnership over the years have been remarkable.
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