The National President Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) Kabiru Minjibir on Wednesday urged the federal and state governments to employ the services of Labour leaders in the sensitive positions in government.
Minjibri who is also the National Deputy President Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), gave the call during a courtesy visit by the Special Adviser on Labour in Kogi State, Comrade Onuh Edoka and other stakeholders.
His visit to Congress is in response to allegations against the state over failure to pay N30,000 minimum wage.
In his defence, Edoka said, “The N30,000 minimum wage was a matter of confusion coming from somewhere. We got to know that there was a report made available to the divisional headquarters of the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
“Kogi state was mentioned amongst states yet to implement the N30,000 minimum wage and as a government of continuity and consolidation, the current Governor is paying the same N30,000 minimum wage across the board to all workers in Kogi state”.
However, Edoka assured that “The issue of hostile relationship between the Kogi state government and Labour unions have become a thing of the past.
“There is prompt payment of salaries as at when due. As early as 24th of every month. Pensioners at the local and state level have been paid 100 per cent of their pension”.
Responding to Edoka’s defence, Munjibri said, “As far as Labour Unions are concerned and on existing records, I don’t think there is any state in the country that has injected Labour leaders in its administration as done in Kogi state”.
Speaking further he said, “I call on President Bola Tinubu amongst other state governors to inject more Labour leaders in the administration of the country.
“I believe they will also benefit from the working experience of formal Labour leaders particularly in developmental projects and in terms of industrial harmony in their leadership”.