The Plateau State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for prompt payment of workers’ salaries.

The state NLC Chairman, Eugene Manji, gave the commendation in an interview on Saturday in Jos.

Mr Manji said that the Mutfwang-led administration had cleared backlog of salary arrears it inherited and ensured prompt and regular payment of workers’ wages.

He stated that since the inception of the current administration, payment of salaries had never exceeded 25 and 26 of every month.

He said, “When this administration came on board, workers were owed salaries for months; in fact, we were on strike.

“But this government cleared all the outstanding salaries and addressed other pending concerns of the workers.

“I can’t remember any time in the last three years that salaries were delayed and exceeded to another month. Specifically, salaries are usually paid either 25 or 26 of every month.”

Mr Manji, who explained that workers in the past suffered undue financial pressure due to consistent delays in payment of salaries, said that the current administration changed the narrative.

He also commended the governor for regular promotions, adding that the move had ensured steady career growth for civil servants in the state.

He added, “Payment of salary has been so stable that I no longer receive calls because of delays; civil servants are now paid even on Saturdays and Sundays.

“Unlike before, promotions of civil servants are now on yearly basis; this government has set a standard for workers to be promoted every January.

“For us in the NLC, such move will ensure steady growth for workers and an end to the era of stagnation in the civil service.”

The chairman further commended the governor for introducing other incentives aimed at improving the welfare of civil servants in the state

He praised the government for introducing the intra-city mass transit, insisting that the initiative cushioned the economic hardship faced by workers due to fuel subsidy removal.

“One of the worker-friendly initiatives of this administration is the introduction of metro buses to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

“The major beneficiaries of this initiative are the civil servants; other citizens, particularly students and traders patronise the metro buses, but Plateau workers are the direct beneficiaries.

“This government has also promoted manpower development through training and retraining of civil servants to boost productivity and quality service delivery.

“So, we can categorically say that the current administration in the state is worker-friendly because it has motivated the civil servants with improved welfare package,” he said.

Mr Manji, however, advised civil servants in the state to reciprocate government’s gesture with commitment and dedication to duty. 

(NAN)