From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has urged the incoming leadeeship of Kano State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to build on the good legacies of the immediate-past chairman, Dr. Kabiru Ado Minjibir.
Ganduje who spoke, while declaring open, the 13th Quadrennial State Delegates Conference of Kano NLC held at Mambayya House, Kano, particularly eulogized Minjibir for maintaining industrial peace in the state, as well as industrial harmony between the employers and employees, in his right years tenure as chairman of NLC, Kano chapter.
The Governor who spoke through the state Head Of Service cum acting Chief of Staff, Usman Bala Muhammad, commended the leadership of Ado Minjibir for its outstanding performance, and congratulated him for his election as Deputy National President of NLC.
“Under Minjibir, NLC over the last two tenures has achieved industrial peace and has maintained industrial harmony between the employers and the employees,” Ganduje added.
According to him, the theme of the Conference: “Building People’s Power, National Unity and Quest for a New Social Contract,” remained, “apt, timely and relevance taking into cognizance the global aspiration of ensuring the welfare of workers.”
He further stated that the Conference will provide solid platform to meet like-minded people and share experiences, adding that civil servants under his administration have witnessed tremendous transformation.
He listed some of his workers’friendly policies to include sustenance of payment of monthly salaries for workers and gratuity to pensioners, sustained payment of bereaved families of workers allowances.
Others are collaboration with NLC in the constructions of 5000 Housing Units at Janguza which will be made available for workers at affordable prices, provision of healthcare facilities to workers, sustainable cordial relationship with workers in the state, increment of the minimum wage from N18,000 to N30, 600, elongation of service years and retirement age for workers, among others.
Ganduje further stated that without any fear of contradicrion, since the creation of Kano state no government has ensured sustenance of payment of workers salaries and pension every month, but his administration.
He urged governments across the country to recognize the importance of labour, just as he commended the contribution of workers to the development of the state.
Ganduje prayed that, “the Conference will elect very credible leaders.”
In his valedictory address, Ado Minjibir who was represented by the over-seeing NLC chairman in the state, Dr. Ado Ruruwai, said it was a blessing from God for him to have completed two-terms of eight years tenure successfully.
Minjibir who is the newly elected National Deputy President of NLC, was in Katsina state as a Returning Officer for the State NLC Conference.
He recalled that: “For the records, our tenure began with key campaigns, protests and pickerings on certain anti-workers and people policies by Government and Private Sector employers of labour which resulted in very many success stories.
“Congress influenced several government policies that brought about some relief to the workers in the state such as National protest and sensitization campaign on Nigeria’s constitution amendment process, especially on the attempt to remove Labour from the Executive List, national protests on autonomy for Local Governments, judiciary and legislature, fuel scarcity removal and many others.”
He further stated that: “In terms of infrastructural development, a visit to the secretariat of the Congress will reveal to everyone the tremendous development that was never witnessed since the inception of the Congress.
“We have succeeded in transforming the Secretariat into a more conducive and befitting place to work which I believe the State Executive Members and some veteran labour leaders who visit the Secretariat recently can testify to that.
While listing other numerous achievement of the Congress under his leadership, Ado Minjibir also mentioned a number of challenges he faced and urged the incoming leadership to vigoriously pursue them for the welfare of members.
“One of the major areas of concern for Congress was the payment of outstanding retirees benefits and an unstable payment of 100 per cent Pension to the pensioners.
“Even though we made several attemptsbto overcome the situation and despite Government efforts to address the menace once and for all, we must admit that the problem persists and remains defiant.
“May I use this opportunity to call on the incoming leadership of the Congress to consider these issues with the deserved Importance and continue to engage the incoming administration to proffer solution to the issue once and for all.
He expressed profound gratitude to Governor Ganduje and the Head of Service, Usman Bala, among others for the roles they played in making his tenure a huge success.
In his remarks, NLC National President Comrade Joe Ajaero, who spoke through the Conference election Returning Officer, Comrade Auwal Yusuf Kiyawa, congratulated workers and the entire people of Kano state on the way they conducted themselves during the presidential and National Assembly elections.
He appealed to the state government to quickly attend to all the challenges facing NLC in the state as itemized by the out-going chairman.
The NLC National President, however, assured that the NLC election in Kano will be very peaceful and orderly, “new leaders will emerge that will take the activities of Kano workers to greater heights.”
He congratulated Ado Minjibir for running the affairs of Kano State workers for eight years very successfully, “this shows that you can run the affairs of the NLC at the National level, very successfully.”
