Benue State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described the 2024 Workers’ Day celebration as the first of its kind in three years.
It said the non-payment of salaries, pensions, lack of promotions, and absence of gratuities had derailed past events.
The state NLC chairman Comrade Terungwa Igbe on behalf of the workers passed a vote of confidence on Governor Hyacinth Alia for prioritising the welfare of workers.
He commended the governor for demonstrating uncommon passion for the welfare of civil servants in the state.
Igbe said, “The vote of confidence passed on the governor is in recognition of his deliberate prioritisation of workers’ welfare and growth as evident in the prompt and regular payment of workers’ salaries, as well as pensions and gratuities to retirees.”
The trade unionist expressed happiness that Governor Alia has pumped life into the Benue civil service system and Benue workers who were left in the ‘intensive care unit’ are now discharged.
While highlighting the numerous achievements of Governor Alia in office in a few months, the labour chairman said civil servants in Benue State are having their promotions, collecting their salaries regularly, retirees are receiving their pensions, and payment of salary arrears and pensions have already begun.
The chairman also appealed to the governor to consider implementing the new minimum wage in Benue and, as well, ensure prompt payment of salaries for primary school teachers.
Apart from the vote of confidence passed on the governor, the state NLC also promised to continue to work tirelessly to guarantee the success of his administration.
In his response, the governor expressed delight to have joined the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the NLC as well as all workers across Benue to mark this year’s May Day.
He said without the workforce, governments, institutions, and society in its entirety cannot function, adding that every worker deserves his or her wages and that he considered it a crime not to pay employees their due emoluments.
