The Kano State Government recently joined hands with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The objective behind this collaboration is to provide a N20,000 palliative to all state employees in Kano.
The move comes in response to the economic challenges faced by civil servants in the state following the removal of the fuel subsidy on January 1, 2024.
Comrade Mubarak Buba Yarima, who serves as the Chairman of the TUC Kano chapter, affirmed this significant development to LEADERSHIP.
He emphasized the crucial role played by the labor unions in engaging with the government to address the concerns of the workforce.
This agreement for the palliative emerged subsequent to a joint plea submitted to the Kano State Government in October 2023 by the NLC and TUC.
The plea aimed at seeking intervention amidst the prevalent economic difficulties faced by workers. In response, Governor Yusuf acted promptly by establishing a special committee to assess the situation.
The committee’s findings resulted in a consensus that a N20,000 palliative would be implemented from December 2023 for all civil servants, both at the state and local government levels.
Yarima further highlighted that the financial aid would persist until a comprehensive review of the minimum wage is conducted within the next six months.
Notably, pensioners are not left out, as they will receive a monthly palliative of N15,000 for three months, along with arrears for the missed December 2023 allowance.
Expressing gratitude, Yarima acknowledged the efforts of the Kano State Government, especially commending the governor’s Special Adviser On Labour, Comrade Baffa Sani Gaya, and other committee members for their swift investigation and report submission to the governor.
He underscored the positive impact of this palliative on the affected workers, stating, “We believe this will significantly assist many people and enhance workers’ morale.”
It’s worth noting that prior to the successful negotiations and agreement, the labor unions had issued a nationwide strike threat to bring attention to the challenges faced by workers following President Bola Tinubu’s fuel subsidy removal.
The resolution of these discussions has effectively averted the impending industrial action.
Additionally, while the federal government had previously announced a salary increase for federal workers, this marks the first increment for state and local government workers.
