Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has flagged off the implementation of N500million revolving loans for civil servants.
The governor who symbolically presented the loans dummy cheques to some of the workers at the May Day celebration amidst cheers, said more economic empowerment initiatives will soon be unfolded for workers of the state.
The governor further assured labour unions that the state government under his leadership will continue to prioritize workers’ welfare and equip them appropriately within available resources, noting that a committed and motivated workforce is critical to the achievement of his administration’s Rural Transformation Agenda.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s May Day celebration, which is ‘People First:, Sani said, development is about the people, just as governance is also about the people.
“We have forged a strategic partnership with the Labour Unions to advance the interests of workers and improve the living conditions of the poor, vulnerable and underserved in Kaduna State. The Labour Unions have participated in all our committees on distribution of palliatives.”
“As part of our economic empowerment packages for Kaduna State civil servants, we have commenced the implementation of the N500 Million Revolving Loan Scheme. Other economic empowerment initiatives will soon unfold for workers in Kaduna State. We are attracting investments to create job opportunities for our citizens. We are training and retraining workers to put them in good stead to contribute effectively to the economic development of our dear state.”
He disclosed that governors under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum were in consultation with the labour unions at the Federal and State levels, in order to come up with a decent and acceptable salary increase for state and local government workers.
Earlier, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, commended the governor for personally attending the May Day Celebration, saying the labour did not witness the presence of a governor at such occasion for nine years.
While commending the governor for prioritizing workers’ welfare through prompt payment of salaries and allowances, as well as involvement of the labour unions in decision making in the state, the NLC Chairman expressed hope that workers would enjoy a favorable working condition throughout his tenure.
“Our demands are that government should increase minimum wage to at least N200, 000, improve the economic situation, address the increasing price of fuel and also the recent increase on electricity tariff as Nigerians are now paying for darkness and finally, the issue of insecurity because without security, there can be no meaningful development,” he said.
