Kano assures on prompt payment of salary

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has said despite the current economic hardship in the country, as a result of which many states cannot pay workers salary duly, his administration has sustained payment of salaries and allowances to civil servants.

In the same vein, he said his government had created a Salary and Wages Directorate to articulate, implement and sustain effective and transparent salary administration for the state workforce.

The governor, who made the disclosure as part of May Day celebration, stated that the government had also succeeded in strengthening its workforce with the inclusion of 3,572 permanent teachers on its payroll.

The government also included “874 and 1, 036 Health personnel and Corporate security guards in the payroll while approval has been give for instalmental payment of their salary arrears,” Ganduje asserted.

Besides training of civil servants and the provision of working environment for them, the governor added that plans are on for the take-off of the state Contributory Health Care Scheme, towards providing quality medical services to civil servants and their families.

Ganduje reaffirmed his administration’s commitment “to sustaining the peaceful coexistence between the Government and Labour as the bedrock for entrenching the much desired industrial harmony as pivotal for ensuring economic prosperity of the state”.

Earlier, Kabiru Ado Minjibir, chairman, NLC, Kano State chapter, appreciated effort of the Ganduje administration for prompt payment of workers’ salaries, despite daunting economic challenges caused by declining oil revenue.

He, however, alerted the state government to prepare for the new minimum wage of N56,000 proposed by the union, appealing to the government to make its Health Contributory Scheme optional as well as to continue with the car/motorcycle loan initiative, with a view to making workers more comfortable.

The chairman also commended the state government for supporting the union to construct 500 housing units for workers, noting that civil servants from junior, middle and senior cadres would benefit from the scheme.

Highlights of the occasion include presentation of certificate and award to Governor Ganduje “in recognition of his outstanding ethical qualities and labour-friendly disposition.”