From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Workers in Benue State have hailed Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia over the pledge to implement a minimum wage bill of N75,000.
The workers who spoke individually expressed happiness at the pronouncement describing it as a landmark commitment to the welfare of civil servants in the state.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, (NLC) Benue State Chapter, Comrade Terungwa Igbe, said he was happy with the pronouncement saying the new minimum wage would impact positively the lives of his members.
Igbe said “I am very very happy. This will impact positively on the lives of my people in the state. It has been a long battle, a battle of almost three months and finally, we have succeeded.
“We appreciate the Benue State government and Governor Hyacinth Alia for his kind gestures.”
Igbe urged Benue workers to continue to remain loyal to the Alia-led administration and expressed confidence that the Governor would implement the wage this month recalling that he has never failed since he started timely and monthly payment of salaries.
A secondary school teacher, Mrs Blessing Amenga also expressed joy at the gesture saying not only that the governor approved minimum wage but that he even exceeded the federal government minimum wage.
She expressed the hope that he will implement it immediately so that it will reflect in their salaries for the month of November especially since the festivities are around the corner.
Another civil servant, Jonah Iorundu said “We are very excited over what the Governor said he will give us, the Benue workers.
“The Governor said he will pay us N75,000 minimum wage. We are very excited over what he has been doing to us especially in prompt payment of salaries since he came into office. If previous Governments had done this, our lives in Benue would have been better for it. So we thank His Excellency for a job well done.”
A nurse with the Benue State Teaching Hospital, (BSUTH), Susan Adule, also appreciated Governor Hyacinth Alia saying, “We are so excited and praying that it comes true so that we can cushion the effects of the hardship that we are passing through.
“We say thank you very much to our own messiah, the messiah of Benue workers and Benue state. This will really help us. If you are working hard and you are being rewarded, you will be happy and put in more effort.
“We even believe he will do more because as we speak, the Governor is sponsoring us in school for post-basic nursing to beef up our knowledge following the establishment of the cancer center. So right now, Benue workers are happy workers,” she said.