Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State has cleared over N11 billion in salary arrears inherited from his predecessor and established a reliable system for salary disbursement, thereby restoring the morale and stability of our workforce.
The governor, who disclosed this while delivering his address at the 2024 Workers Day celebration at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos, Plateau State, stated on Wednesday that in view of the economic turbulence following the removal of the petroleum subsidy, the state government has taken decisive steps to alleviate the impact and ensure that the welfare of its citizens remains a top priority.
He added that the government is committed to forging a future where every worker is treated with the utmost dignity, respect, and fairness, adding that it is also committed to its mission to revitalize the civil service to achieve exemplary service delivery.
“We recall our pledge to bolster the capabilities of our civil servants by providing them with the necessary tools to execute government policies effectively. Our unwavering commitment to training, staffing excellence, and a merit-based reward system is designed to cultivate an efficient and supportive public service.”.
Governor Muftwang further highlighted that, through constructive dialogue with labor unions, the administration has successfully resolved prolonged strikes, setting the stage for enhanced productivity and progress.
“While the timely payment of salaries is a fundamental responsibility rather than an achievement, we reaffirm our commitment to the welfare of our workers. Efforts to address outstanding gratuities, death benefits, and pension backlogs dating back to 1986 commenced in December 2023. We pledge to continue these endeavours within the scope of our available resources.
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“Our investment in the professional growth of our public servants through extensive training programs is a testament to our aspiration to cultivate a workforce that excels both nationally and internationally. In recognition of the invaluable contributions of our workers, we have implemented hazard allowances for healthcare professionals, adjusted salaries, facilitated promotions, and maintained transparent communication with union representatives.”.
“Also, in anticipation of the federal wage adjustments, we proactively provided a monthly fuel subsidy of N12,000 to each state employee from September 2023 to March 2024. Additionally, we have conducted an upward review of repatriation allowances, burial expenses, and pensions and have implemented promotions, all aimed at motivating and appreciating our dedicated workforce.”
He expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), and all affiliated unions for their commitment to fostering a spirit of amicable settlement and peaceful resolution in the face of disagreements.
In his address, the State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Eugene Manji, noted that despite Nigeria being richly blessed with resources, the country has remained a cursed one due to bad leadership.
“It is very worrisome that even the wailing and painful cries of the masses of this country are not heard. It is unfortunate that those we elected soon turned out to be lords in the earth after the oath of office, engaging in acts and implementing laws and policies that will further impoverish workers and citizens of Nigeria.”
The State NLC Chairman also requested the implementation of the circular on domestic servant allowance officers on GT 15 and 16, respectively, both at the state and local government councils.