By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The Cross State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congres, NLC, has commended the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade, for kick-starting the process of reinstating over 3,000 workers delisted from the state payroll about a year ago.
Speaking with journalists in Calabar yesterday, at the end of the state executive council meeting of the NLC at the Labour House, Calabar, chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Ben Ukpekpi, said the governor’s initiative to reinstate the delisted workers was a very good step in the right direction, which shows that the governor was a humane person.
However, a communique signed by the acting Secretary and chairman of the NLC in the state, Comrade Ita Ayi, and Ukpekpi, respectively, called for urgent payment of gratuity of retired workers.
The communique also drew attention to other issues that require urgent and prompt attention, which include: implementation of all pending promotions in the state civil service, employment of qualified civil/public servants for the different cadres of the enhance succession, planning and continuity of service in the state.
Calling for the restoration of salary structure of CONPCASS/CONTEDISS to the College of Technology, as applicable to similar institutions in the state, in order to motivate their personnel, Ukpekpi, who spoke on the theme, “A New Social Contract for Resilience,” canvassed for the enforcement of the memorandum of understanding, MoU, reached with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, on management of motor parks in the state.
Also sepkaing on the issue of land and housing by the Federal Mortgage Bank, Ukpekpi said, “In line with the objectives of the Federal Mortgage Bank, Congress urged the state government to oblige the request made by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria to provide land for housing for workers in Cross River State, as applicable in other states of the federation, and to remit monies/deductions owed to the bank so that state government workers can benefit from the provisions of the bank.”
The communique also called on the state government to revisit the issue of weigh-allowance payment for radio/television and theatre workers, so that it can direct action for payment.
The NLC also appealed to the state government to grant a waiver of three years period of training to nurses and mid-wives, stressing that that would make them retire after putting in 35 years in service instead of the usual 32 years.
Further, the communique called for the approval for the take-off of the College of Nursing and Mid-Wifery Science, Itigidi, as well as commencement of Community Nursing and Mid-Wifery, as approved by the Nursing and Mid-Wifery Council of Nigeria and balance of 30 per cent CONHESS to nurses and midwives.
