Kano workers and retirees groan as Ganduja returns to the minimum wage of 18,000 won
Workers and retirees in the Kano State government are concerned about Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s alleged change of the € 18,000 minimum wage.
DAILY NIGERIAN recalls that Ganduje approved the introduction of a new minimum wage of N30.600 from December 2019.
But six months after the enactment, the governor cut civil servants’ wages from 10% to 23%, prompting unions to issue a two-week ultimatum to the state government.
After a series of meetings with unions, an agreement was reached that the state government should continue to pay the minimum wage of N30,600. E., but will reduce the debt from January to May.
However, DAILY NIGERIAN noticed that the governor did not respect the agreement and even reverted to the old 18,000 N wage regime as the minimum wage.
In November and December, sources told our correspondent that the governor not only paid salaries according to the old minimum wage model, but also reduced the monthly pension of retired civil servants by 15 percent.
Speaking to reporters in Kano, the president of the Nigerian Labor Congress, NLC, Kabiru Ado-Minjibir, said the government had not consulted the union before returning to the old minimum wage regime.
He noted that unions have never reached an agreement with the state government to pay wages using the 18,000 minimum wage model during meetings with a committee set up by the governor.
The union was shocked to learn that the government cut their wages in December, he said, even after meeting with a commission last week to address the November pay cut.
Minjibir said: “After noticing the wage cut in May, we issued a two-week ultimatum to the government, which then formed a committee to address the issue.
“After the meetings, we agreed on the reason for the reduction in wages, but on condition that the arrears will be paid later. We have never agreed to reinstate the £ 18,000 minimum wage model.
“Also last week, after the November pay cut, we sat down in a committee and came to an agreement.
“But to our disappointment, when we set out our position that we are sticking to wage payments under the new N30, 600 regime, even before the letter reached the government, we heard that he cut his salaries again in December,” – he said. said mister – complained Ado-Minzhibir.
The president then stated that the NLC and its sister unions in the state disagreed with the wage cut, indicating that organized unions would soon meet and oppose the governor’s decision in accordance with the regulations. law.
For his part, state retiree Mohammed Idris complained that instead of Ganduje continuing his five-year periodic review of the pension scheme, the governor has resorted to cutting money at the expense of “weak” retired civil servants.
Mr. Idris reminded Mr. Ganduja that his predecessors, Governors Ibrahim Shekarau and Rabiu Kwankwaso, had revised upward pensions in the state, complaining that the governor had not followed suit.
He complained that Mr. Ganduye, who did not implement an upward revision of his pension in 2017 and also refused to increase his pension following the introduction of a new minimum wage scheme, “is now resorting to cutting an already small number of pensioners.”
“This is pure injustice and indifference to the plight of the masses on the part of the governor. His predecessors in this state raised the pensions of retired civil servants. Instead of increasing it further, you are now reducing it, what an injustice.
“The governor has no reason to cut our money. He cannot tell us that there is no money in the state treasury. If he says so, let me tell you where he received a series of assistance provided by President Muhammad Bukhari to offset pensions, wages and contract arrears. Where are they?
“Where is the Paris Club buyout fund? Let me tell you that Ganduja did not fulfill his plans for even one percent of the financial assistance he received from the House of Government.
“I am a member of APC, but these people justify the idea that they are simply stealing government funds for their own needs. They are trying to plunder Kano’s treasures without undertaking any significant projects, ”Idris said.
When we were contacted for comment, the press secretary of the office of the head of the civil service, Hajiya Bintu, said that she was not authorized to speak about this.
He added that only the head of the civil service can speak about this, but he is present at the meeting in the Government House.
In addition, Kano Umar Kurmava, a spokesman for the State Pension Board, did not answer a call made to him by DAILY NIGERIAN at the time of writing.
Source: – Daily Nigerian
