Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said he has set up a committee to work out modalities for the Implementation of the 65 years retirement age for teachers.
Bagudu disclosed this in Birnin Kebbi on Monday when he declared open the National Executive Committee meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum also stated that the state government would look into the possibility of paying leave grants to the workers on or before October 31, 2022.
Bagudu acknowledged the robust mutual relationship existing between his administration and the labour unions in the state.
According to the governor, the state government was also enjoying such a robust support from all the cadres of civil servants in the state.
Bagudu further acknowledged the invaluable support and cooperation of labour unions in the state right from his election and his deputy in 2015.
He described the labour unions as indispensable beacons in the society.
Bagudu recalled that the state government had promulgated the public procurement law and abrogated the state tenders board.
This action he said, reduced the enormous power of the governor and his deputy and devolved same to the commissioners and Heads of the MDAs.
Bagudu appreciated the tireless efforts of the NLC President,Mr Ayuba Wabba and described him a diligent and dedicated patriot.
He said that Wabba has done Nigeria proud and that he is an Ambassador of Nigeria in the global arena.
He commended NLC for honouring Kebbi state by conducting the meeting in the state.
Bagudu also commended the labour leaders for their solidarity with one of their own, the APC governorship candidate, Dr Nasiru Idris.
He also described Dr Nasiru as a very humble , reliable and dependable person, who will also do the people of the state proud.
The National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who acknowledged the hospitality of the government and people of Kebbi State, described Bagudu as level headed person.
Wabba also said that Bagudu takes workers of the state as his partners and colleagues,saying that this was why monumental achievements were recorded in the state.
According to the NLC National President, Dr Nasir Idris is a worthy Ambassador of the labour unions.
He called on civil servants in kebbi State to overwhelmingly vote for the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, Comrade Nasiru Idris (Kauran Gwandu) in the 2023 elections in the state.
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He urged workers in the state to work assiduously to ensure that the APC governorship candidate, Dr. Nasir Idris emerged victorious in the 2023 elections.
He said “I enjoined you to do everything possible for one of us Nasiru Idris for him to win elections in kebbi State. Use your mouth, your strength and everything you have to ensure his victory”
The NLC president said Idris who was a former teacher was NUT and NLC chairman in Kebbi State before becoming NUT national treasurer and later NUT national president. He said he is currently the national deputy president of the union as such he deserved the union’s support in his bid to become Governor of Kebbi State.
The APC governorship candidate Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu said that Bagudu’s achievements were tangible and promised to sustain them.
He recalled that he has worked with five Governors, both military and civilians,saying, ” none was like Bagudu.”
Dr Nasiru said the prudent and transparent nature the governor was administering the state was why the state government was regularly paying salaries, pensions, gratuities and other entitlements of the workers .
In his opening address, the State NLC Chairman, Comrade Umar Hassan Halidu welcomed the leadership of NLC led by their National President, Ayuba Waba for finding Kebbi suitable for the NCW meeting.
He appreciated governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for doing so much to workers in the State describing him as ‘ Workers friendly Governor ‘.
Comrade Halidu stressed that under the leadership of Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the State had enjoyed cordial relationship between the labour and Government.
He commended the governor being among the first to approve the payment of 30,000 naira minimum wage, payment of backlog of retired civil servants gratuity, prompt payment of monthly workers salary and construction of Housing Estate for Workers among others.
Earlier, the Acting Head of Civil Service Alhaji Safiyanu Garba Bena expressed profound appreciation to Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for approving the hosting of the Council meeting in Birnin Kebbi.
He said the gesture was a further manifestation of the avowed love the peoples’ Governor has for workers in the State.
He appealed to well-meaning Nigerians and and the workforce to continue to contribute meaningfully in championing the cause for robust Labour/Politics relationship that will see the need to ensure harmonious industrial relations devoid of incessant strikes and other Government/Labour disputes that do not only slow development but also make room for unnecessary stagnation in the scheme of things.
Bena stated also that ‘ Kebbi State Governor is doing everything possible to create the enabling environment to engage labour in meaningful dialogue and discussion whenever the need arises’, he averred.
He thanked and appreciated the efforts of the state government in the payment of pension and gratuity that has put a wide smile on the faces of retired workers in the state and local government services.
‘ Since the assumption of office of the Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu administration in Kebbi State in 2015, conscious, deliberate and concerted efforts have been made to ensure that Civil Servants and their retired counterparts receive their dues promptly.
‘ Salaries of Civil Servants, both in the State and Local Government Services, have a priority of this administration. This far, no Civil Servant is being owed by the Government a dime ‘ , he said.
The Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Rtd Colenel Samaila Yombe Dabai , former Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, Kebbi State APC Gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Babale Umar Yauri, the Acting Head of Service Alhaji Safiyanu Garba Bena and the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmad Magaji Kontagora were among the important personalities who attended the event.
