By Nurse A.K
Via -
BELLO GALADI FOUNDATION
(For the Common Man)
COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE EMERGENCY MEETING OF SUNDAY, 17th SEPTEMBER, 2017 AT BELLO GALADI FOUNDATION SECRETARIAT, GUSAU, ZAMFARA STATE
The Bello Galadi Foundation is a non- profit, non- governmental and non- political organization, whose mandate, among others is Advocacy for Rule of Law, Democracy and Good Governance; Jobs Networking; Youth Empowerment; Students’ Admissions, Scholarships and Mentorship; Humanitarian and Medical Services to the poor; Free Legal Services to the needy, the uninformed and destitute; as well as general sensitization.
The Foundation rose from its Executive Committee Emergency Meeting of Sunday, 17th day of September, 2017 at which we deliberated on sole issue bothering on the lingering crises between the Labour Unions and the Zamfara State Government.
The Bello Galadi Foundation is deeply concerned by the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the Labour Unions in the state as all activities have been put on hold, including Banks, Courts and all the MDAs in the state, an action that added pains to the already pained common man.
The Unions’ strike action was predicated on seven (7) issues: thus non- implementation of the N18, 000.00 minimum wage to some category of workers by the state government; failure of the government to clear backlog of retirement benefits to some retirees; failure of the government to implement promotion and advancement to civil servants; non- implementation of the various salary structures like the CONTIDIS/ COMPACAS, CONJUS, TSS, CONHESS, CONPSS among others; refusal of the government to pay salary to the 1, 400 engaged youth and failure to fill existing vacancies in the civil service; diversion/ mismanagement of the Bail Out Fund/ Paris Club Refund to settle the backlog of salaries and gratuity and lastly, failure of the government to review its pension in line with the law which stipulates that the pension be reviewed in every five (5) years or whenever the salary of active workers is adjusted.
We have noted the responses advanced by the State Government that the reason why she could not implement the minimum wage was because it was disastrous to commit that huge public fund on an unascertained figure. In other words, the figure in the workforce has been quadrupled.
It was also the excuse of the government that it has agreed with the Labour Unions to work together to get the actual figure of the workforce before the minimum wage could be implemented.
Be it as it is, the Bello Galadi Foundation is of the firm view that the government is duty bound under Section 2 of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2011 to implement the N18, 000.00 minimum wage to its workers in all the strata of civil service (both State and Local Government), failure of which constitutes an offence in the eyes of the law.
It is not the responsibility of the Labour Unions to fish out ghost workers in the workforce; it is the responsibility of the government.
We are of the opinion that the fulcrum lies not on fishing out the ghost workers but on making sure they don’t resurface on the payroll forever.
It is evident that this government has carried out nine (9) successive verification exercises since 2011 which number should be sufficient enough to be able to identify who is a ghost and who is real.
We are also of the opinion that the issue of 1,400 engaged youths in 2014 ought not be part of the Labour Unions’ demands to the government because it has been overtaken by event on the strength of the pending action before the National Industrial Court sitting in Kano.
The International best practices demand that whenever an issue is pending in court, comments and discussions should be stayed to await the outcome of the judgement of the court. We hereby urge the Labour Unions to expunge that particular paragraph.
It is also our candid opinion that the government is not duty bound to fill any existing vacancy in the civil service, it is within its prerogative right.
As advocates of good governance, we see no better option for resolving the standoff than dialogue. We wish to advice the government to take the lead to see to the amicable resolution of the issues in the shortest possible time and should thread with caution to avert been misunderstood as having no listening ears or feeling of the masses at heart.
A good government needs not be told that the general welfare of its workers in terms of salary, promotion and advancement and other emoluments should be her priority so as to boost their Morales to yield optimum result.
The Labour Unions, on the other hand should cooperate to cut the strike action short on a Win- Win and not on Win- Lose basis. The demands are numerous that might require a long- term financial strategies in view of the current economic situation in the country.
We commend the efforts of His Excellency, the Executive Deputy Governor, Malam Wakkala Ibrahim Liman and His Royal Highness, the Emir of Anka and Chairman, Zamfara State Emirate Council for volunteering to wade in, which gave birth to the constitution of a committee under the able leadership of the Head of Service, Alh. Mujitaba Isah, Mni.
We implore the general public to support that committee and any other commendable positive effort by any person or group of persons that stands the chance of resolving the matter amicably.
We advise the general public to desist from unwarranted utterances that are capable of heating up the tension because Zamfara State belongs to us all.
On our part, we remain committed to the plight of the common man and will do everything humanly possible and positive to support every attempt to resolve the issue amicably.
LONG LIVE BELLO GALADI FOUNDATION!
LONG LIVE ZAMFARA STATE GOVERNMENT!!
LONG LIVE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!!!
Barr. Bello Idris (Turakin Galadi, Chiroman Batauna),
President, Bello Galadi Foundation
Muhammad Aminu Abdullahi,
Vice President, Bello Galadi Foundation
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