Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong says he has fulfilled his pact with workers in the state and is leaving behind a legacy of better welfare and professionalism.
Lalong spoke yesterday at the Workers’ Day celebration held at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium, Jos with the theme: “Workers’ Rights and Socioeconomic Justice.”
Being his last appearance for May Day as governor of Plateau State, Lalong said the event presented him another opportunity to not only bid them farewell but also reflect on the great relationship he has shared with the workers in the last eight years.
“I want to specially thank you my dear comrades for standing up to be counted in the task of rescuing Plateau State from the clutches of underdevelopment and despondency. Looking back at where we took over in 2015, it is clear that a lot of difference has been made not only in the civil service, but the entire sectors of the economy.
“You will recall that on coming into office, I assured you that the era of salary arrears will be a thing of the past. We immediately paid five months withheld wages under no-work-no-pay policy and cleared inherited salary arrears of eight months from the past administration.”
The same story applied to pension arrears of over 10 months which we equally cleared,” he said.
He said little wonder, the comrades of Plateau State gave him the title of “Governor Alert” which was endorsed by the NLC under the leadership of immediate past president Ayuba Wabba.
NLC chairman in the state Comrade Eugene Manji and his TUC counterpart Comrade Kenneth Shammah said the workers in Plateau were appreciative of the love and care shown to them by the governor in the past eight years.
They said the governor, apart from clearing all the inherited backlogs of salaries, has remained consistent in ensuring that workers are paid despite the economic challenges.
