Civil servants in Yobe State have urged the state government to restore the payment of annual leave grants for workers and 100 per cent overhead funding for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) across the state. 

Mukhtar Tarbutu, Yobe chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), made the call during the NLC/Trade Union Congress (TUC) joint May Day rally in Damaturu on Friday.

The workers earlier held a road walk in Damaturu, culminating at the office of the state head of service (HoS), Abdullahi Shehu.

Mr Tarbutu said that while the payment of the leave grant to workers was suspended without a cogent reason, overhead costs were arbitrarily slashed by 50 per cent.

He also called on the government to increase the furniture allowance by 100 per cent in line with the existing economic realities.

“The current increasing cost of goods and services requires an urgent upward review of allowances.

“This demand is necessitated by current market forces and the state of our national economy. An upward review of 100 per cent to the furniture allowance will make the needed impact on beneficiaries in government,” he said.

The chairman also restated the need for an upward review of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), implementation of a paramilitary salary structure for the state fire service and road traffic agency, among others.

Mr Tarbutu, however, commended the government for implementing the new national wage, massive recruitment into the state civil service, the 20 per cent subsidised motorcycle loan scheme, and sponsoring capacity-building for workers.

Addressing the workers, Mr Shehu, represented by Hamidu Babi, a permanent secretary at the office, noted that it was imperative for every government to support workers and enhance their welfare for effective service delivery.

He said Governor Mai Mala Buni was committed to training and retraining workers from permanent secretaries down to the messenger cadre.

Mr Babi assured the NLC that he would forward its demands to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.

(NAN)