The National Labour Union (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) today payed Governor Darius Ishaku a Coutesy call in his office, speaking onbehalf of the Union the NLC chairman said the visit was just to thank the governor for all his efforts towards making sure that there is peace in the state and also for his consistency in salaries and development. The chairman said the Effort to pay salary and pensions up to date by the governor is one thing that they won't just wave without saying Kudos. He said though there are enemies of progress but we are not one of them, he gave an instance saying Look at Magami road, I pass through there everyday to my house and I know how difficult it was to get home but today a wonderful Nylon road is spread to my house, he added by saying look at kona,Donga road, the main streets along jalingo city, they are all paved and bright. We as organised labour are not taking it for granted we are indeed appreciative. We are people who appreciate progress and we are here to appreciate progress, we are the only reasonable group to put pressure on government to do better if it is not happening but in this case it is happening. He added by saying In the whole North east Taraba is the only state that is up to date in paying Salaries, and said they are against all the disgruntled elements who in the name of organised people wants to cause unrest in the name of what is not true.
The Chairman thank the Governor for lifting embargo on employment because since the creation of Taraba state they have always been only replacement but this time it is employment. He pleaded with the governor to please look into the employment process and ask him to make sure it is done on merit because that will go along way in sustaining the civil services. The NLC chairman said they will resist any one who is been employed with no qualification to handle any office, saying as organised labour they will always protect the workers and guide them towards the right thing.
The chairmen also thanked the Governor for employing Nurses in areas were it was necessary and said that has gone a long way in helping our people who are in far remote areas Eg Warwar. Continuing he said the Governor is doing just wonderfully well even as he is set to construct houses to ease the civil servants from the stress of searching for roof after retirement. He plead with the Governor to help in crashing down the cost of the just commisioned housing unit at Welcome to jalingo, saying the cost was a bit high at 7 million for 3 bed room flat and 5 million for 2 bed room flat, he ask the cost be cut down to enable the people access some for them self. He also commended the Governor for the adoption of ways of payment saying the deductions in civil servant salaries has drastically reduce. He pleaded that the Governor find a place in his heart to create way of looking into gratuity, saying let there be consideration for this. Among others which was mentioned he said most of the governing council has not be addressed and plead that let it be addressed as expected .The Chairman spoke on the challenges in the university and pleaded also with the Governor to please look into this so that some of this workers can also feel the impact of his leadership.
Responding the Governor thanked them for all the kind words, speaking the Governor said it is over a year they meet and withing that period alot has been done and one of the big work that is going on is the water project. The Governor said The companies are working seriously and there will be a beautiful water head tank with even restaurants and a relaxation point soon as it is completed. The Governor thank the NLC /TUC for lifting the ban saying that was a commendable efforts. When the Governor assumed office he found out that over 20 years they've not been employment and he felt bad and decided to seek professional hands to come into the service, hence he lifted the embargo for employment. Governor Darius said he got to know that most of the civil servants is when they get to 30 or more years in service they begin to think of how and were to put up, and that is why he brought about the 5000 housing unit. He spoke saying the only state that peace is enjoyable in the North East is Taraba and that is why he invites any investor without fear. He said why he kept preaching peace is because without peace every effort made is a mirage. He said sometimes even when someone hurts you leave it to God so that God will do the judging.
His Excellency Arc Darius said the Muslim Council and CAN are doing a great job in helping him in the peace building process, and commended them for the support sofar, he urge the labour union to also preach peace because that will help us a big deal. The Governor said he is doing his best to start up a ranch in the state so that does who are rearing cattles will have were to feed there cattles. Why are we in a hurry to end the next persons life when every one has his or her bus stop, why not allow him to reach it as God plans for him the Governor said. He pleaded however with the NLC to please also engage in this process of getting more professional Nurses because they are limited Nurses and also all the functional hospitals are in jalingo, and have decided to rehabilitee three hospitals in the state, one in Gembu, one in Wukari and another in Bambur, he said the Wukari's own will kick start tomorrow.
Speaking he said the civil servants will be engaged in the housing fully because at the end of any civil servant service he should have a roof on his head without stress, he advised the NLC TUC to inform there people to get involved In the PENCOM because it is very important as that will be a fall back after there long years of service. He stress on what they are learning while serving and were they will retire to after service. He said over three quater of those retiring doesn't know the meaning of business and in turn encounters alot of problems after leaving service. He said you must have to plan for your salary so that you will avoid having issues even when there is a delay in salaries.
The Governor said he was part of the privatisation of NEPA and he saw the pains of people who were retiring and never knew what to do, it was indeed painful that he had to bring consultants to train them on little businesses and that is why when he came in he made sure that he paid salary because there is no company in this state apart of the government company. He pleaded with the labour union to help in solving the salary issues because one person will be collecting 10 people's salary and when stopped they will say the government work has spoiled .The Governor gave a instance saying he invited the permanent secretary Beureu to detail him when a man approached him saying 10 months he has not been paid, the permanent secretary went ahead after receiving the details and checked the name but found out that it was having diffrent details ranging from names and numbers.
The peoples Governor speaking said In the entire North East it is only Taraba state that get its salary at month end. He added by saying the fall in the federation allocation is by the day and even the revenue from the oil is also falling but I'm doing my best to pay. He said concerning the University if he should pay all what they are demanding the sate will be closed down for some few months, saying he has engage them in proper talk on how it can be paid instalmentally. When you wants to be a teacher it has to be a commitment because there is no measure to how much you can pay a teacher and that is why he is doing all he can to settle what ever concerns them, saying just as he has made up his mind to be a Governor he must sacrifice and he is doing everything to handle the situation and soon all will be put to past and we all move on.
