By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum on Sunday affirmed that the state government has cleared all backlog of pensions, leave grants, gratuities and outstanding salaries of workers in the state.
The governor stated this on Sunday during the 1st May 2022 Workers’ Day celebration held at El Kanemi Warriors Sports Center Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Governor Zulum appreciated the workers’ efforts and contributions in the state while noting that Borno workers needed to be encouraged to put in their best efforts as well rededicate themselves on hardwork.
Represented by the Chief of Staff to the Governor (COS), Professor Isa Matte Hussaini, he said organized labour union has changed and justified has its leadership appropriately in the state .
According to him, the 10 point agenda of his administration also include good governance, transparency and accountability while stressing that, “civil servants are friends and partners in progress and development. They are friends not enemies. Government also consider workers as friends not enemies.”
“Pensions are paid to the retirees worth N12 billion. Government has released enough money to clear all backlog of the pensioners in the state from 2018 to 2021 as all the outstanding pensions have been paid and settled.”, Zulum said.
“Issues of outstanding promotional benefits, leave grants and gratuities were discussed with the labour leaders and government officials but due to paucity of funds , only leave grants were paid last year while plans are underway for full payment of the promotion benefits this year 2022.
“So, nobody should or supposed to put blame of the present state government of Governor Zulum for the backlogs. What were the last leaders doing that they did not pay the pensioners. Why the workers did not blame them rather they are now blaming me despite the efforts and commitment I made to improve on the situation,” Zulum added.
The governor further explained that his administration has made conserved efforts, maintain and pay regular salary monthly and promptly. However, we are doing our best to create a conducive and an enabling working environment for the workers.
Zulum disclosed that the state government in this line, renovated and furnished offices at the state Secretariat which was built 40 years ago apart from engaging workers in training and retraining programmes within and outside the state worth hundreds of millions of naira.
He however assured continuous peaceful working relationship with the organized labour union while urging all the workers to rededicate themselves to service/duty to justify their regular pay monthly.
The governor further pledged speedy development of the state despite the challenges the state government is battling with in the post insurgency rebuilding process where visually all public and private infrastructures were destroyed and decayed .
The Borno State NLC Chairman, Comrade Yusuf Inuwa in his remarks, appreciated Governor Zulum for his dedication, commitment and fulfilment of pledges he made on most labour matters especially, the prompt payment of monthly salary of workers in the state unlike other state governors who owe their workers over six months salaries.
He also commended the state government’s prompt intervention on payment of pensions backlog of retirees and leave grants backlog among others, while appealing for the payment of workers promotion benefits and other entitlements.
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