The Plateau State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commended Governor Caleb Mutfwang for ending the era of delayed salary payments, saying workers in the state now receive their salaries promptly every month.
The state NLC Chairman, Eugene Manji, stated this in an interview with journalists in Jos.
According to him, the Mutfwang administration inherited several months of unpaid salaries but has since cleared the backlog and institutionalised regular payment of workers’ wages.
“When this administration came on board, workers were owed salaries for months. In fact, we were on strike.
“But this government cleared all the outstanding salary arrears and addressed other pending concerns affecting workers.
“I can’t remember any time in the last three years that salaries were delayed into the following month. Specifically, salaries are paid on the 25th or 26th of every month, and the payment schedule has remained consistent,” he said.
Manji said the prompt payment of salaries had eased the financial burden previously faced by civil servants due to persistent delays.
He also lauded the governor for ensuring regular promotion of workers, describing the development as a significant boost to career progression in the state civil service.
“Salary payment has become so stable that I no longer receive calls from workers complaining about delays. Civil servants are now paid even when the payment date falls on a weekend.
“Unlike in the past, workers are now promoted annually. This administration has established a standard whereby promotions are carried out every January.
“For us in the NLC, this will guarantee steady career growth for workers and bring an end to the era of stagnation in the civil service,” he said.
The labour leader further commended the governor for introducing welfare initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of workers.
He particularly praised the state’s intra-city mass transit scheme, saying it had helped cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on civil servants.
“One of the worker-friendly initiatives of this administration is the introduction of metro buses to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
“The major beneficiaries of this initiative are civil servants. Although students, traders and other residents also use the buses, Plateau workers remain the primary beneficiaries.
“This government has also promoted manpower development through the training and retraining of civil servants to enhance productivity and improve service delivery.
“So, we can categorically say that this government is worker-friendly because it has motivated workers through improved welfare packages,” he said.
Manji, however, urged civil servants to reciprocate the government’s gestures by remaining committed and dedicated to their duties.