The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Nasarawa State Chapter, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state have differed on the payment of N70,000, the new national minimum wage, by the state government to workers in the state.
Mr Suleiman Oshafu, the association’s chairman, made the union’s position known after its emergency meeting in Lafia yesterday.
He said that the union preferred to pay its members the new national minimum wage before paying promotion arrears to civil servants in the state.
The chairman said that the minimum wage would affect and benefit all state workers, while the promotion arrears payment would only benefit the affected workers.
Oshafu said that the meeting’s essence was to brief members on the outcome of the NLC/TUC meeting
with Gov. Abdullahi Sule on the payment of the national minimum wage held on August 12.
“During the meeting, Gov. Abdullahi Sule agreed to pay the N70,000 new minimum wage to civil servants as approved by President Bola Tinubu.
“But NLC preferred the payment of the backlog of promotion arrears to civil servants before the payment of the new minimum wage, which the governor agreed with NLC,” he said.
Oshafu said that the union was not against paying the promotion arrears to civil servants but should be the other way round.
NAN reported that the chairman appreciated members’ contributions and promised to communicate their resolutions to the NLC and state government for necessary action.
“We are your representatives; we will continue to represent you well.
“We have heard you and will inform the NLC and the government of your stand appropriately,” he added.
The PASAN chairman urged members to remain united and embrace peace for the association’s progress.
He appreciated the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Danladi Jatau, for being workers friendly.
Oshafu thanked the state governor for his commitment to the welfare of assembly staff.
