The end may have come to the lingering faceoff between the Nasarawa state government and the organized labour following Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura’s approval for the payment of two months outstanding salary shortfall for the months of August and November.
Governor Almakura gave the approval on Thursday when he received the leadership of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in his office with a view to finding lasting solution to the recurrent strike by workers in the state.
Commenting on the strike action which was called on by a renegade section of the union, he assured that as far as he was concerned there was no strike ongoing in the state as government remains unhindered in its operations.
He also assured that government will take seriously and evolve better ways of addressing the remaining four demands by labour bordering on welfare and improved condition of service. All the four demands table before him would be considered as he directed the state head of service to to with immediate effect begin the processes of conducting promotion exams to the worker for their promotion.
The governor also directed that the head of service and other authorities responsible for payment of workers’ salaries swing into action and fast track the payment of the two months owed workers with immediate effect and ensure full payment before the end of this month.
He explained that pending issues of local government emoluments, he said plans are underway to review their salaries, which according to him will be implemented as soon as funds anticipated from Paris club refund is made available to the state.
Meanwhile the NLC chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Adeka, has asked workers in the state to resume work at their duty posts so as to reciprocate government’s magnanimous gesture.