May Day: Workers urge full implementation of demands, threaten strike

Abuja – 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 (NLC), who made the call in Maiduguri, urged the government to pay priority attention to workers.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 that 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 health workers 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 the 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.Meanwhile in Kaduna, Mr Adamu Ango, the Kaduna State NLC Chairman, has demanded the state government to pay outstanding leave grants owed local government workers in the past six years.Ango made the call on Friday in Kaduna at a ceremony to mark this year’s Workers Day celebration.He also demanded that workers who were removed from the new Pension Act, should be refunded their contributions.While lauding the outgoing state government for living up to workers’ expectations, the chairman underscored the need for the incoming federal and state governments to be committed to workers’ welfare.