May Day: Borno workers ask govt to implement demands

As workers in Borno State urged full implementation of all their demands, their counterparts in Plateau have threatened to go on strike, if the state government failed to meet their ultimatum.These demands come against the background of the 2015 Workers Day celebration across the country.Mr Titus Abana, the Borno State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, who made the call in Maiduguri, urged the government to pay priority attention to workers.The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that the theme for the 2015 May Day celebration is “The Working Class, Democratic Consolidation and Economic Revival: Charting the Way for the Nation’s Re-birth.”Abana said in spite of the security challenges in the state, members of the union decided to join their counterparts in other states to celebrate the day.He urged Gov Kashim Shettima to focus on workers’ demands which include full implementation of the minimum wage for local government staff and primary school teachers.“We also want you to pay outstanding 10 per cent and 30 per cent CONHESS for health and animal healthworkers in the state and local governments respectively.“Payment of pensioners arrears, prompt electricity supply to the state secretariat offices without electrification and increased funding for the payment of gratuity to teachers.’’Abana also urged the state government to ensure payment of outstanding salaries of staff of Borno Investment Company, state hotels and housing corporation.The chairman also called for immediate lifting of the embargo on employment in the state, to reduce unemployment, poverty and redundancy among the teeming youths.He stressed the need to revive dormant industries such as Neitsl shoe factory, Soda Ash Plant, Wire and Nail industry and the Borno State Fertiliser Company.He said these industries, when revived, would generate more internal revenue and employment.Abana further urged the government to recommend 65 years as the retirement age for staff of tertiary institutions in the state through an executive bill to the state assembly.In his remark, Shettima, said the state government was determined to address all the demands and plightof workers in the state.Represented by Alhaji Zannah Mustapha, the Deputy Governor, Shettima said the payment of gratuity for state, local government and primary school teachers and employment of international hotel staff would also be looked into.He commended civil servants in Borno for their contribution to his re-election, saying that the governmentwould continue to create a conducive environment for increased productivity through the implementation of policies and programmes that would better their lives.Shettima said the people of the state had voted for change and expressed optimism that the APC-led government of Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), would end the insurgency.