Gov Alia says he will continue to prioritize welfare of Benue workers

By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has assured that he will continue to give priority to the welfare of civil servants and agricultural sector for more development of the state.

Governor Alia maintained that under his watch, the welfare of the workers and the improvement of work conditions will remain one of the cardinal objectives of his administration.

The Governor, who spoke during this year’s workers day celebration at the IBB square Makurdi on Tuesday, added that the state government has sustained the prompt and regular payment of salaries, allowances and pensions to enhance optimal performance.

His words: “I am overwhelmed with the level of turnout of workers to honour me in May Day. This is my first time in office. I was told that the union had not celebrated Labour Day for awhile.”

“Here we are today again with the entire workforce of the public service acknowledging our modest contributions to the development of our dear state.

“We have commenced payment of salary callously and dubiously owed workers by previous administrations and we are going to step it up until the whole arrears are cleared.

“My government will align with organised labour and the federal government to implement any minimum wage agreed upon.

“We have put in place necessary machinery to augment workers’ salaries. Already, the technical committee set up by the state government and the labour unions to negotiate for the new wage have commenced discussion.

“We are waiting for the reports of the negotiating committee and once they are done, we will do the needful”, he added.

He maintained that his government is creating an enabling environment for employment of more youths in the state, adding that many people will give more jobs in the state on the basis of merit not by favouritism or man-no-man.

The governor said without the workforce, governments, institutions and society in its entirety, cannot function, stressing that every worker deserves their wages; and that he considered it a crime not to pay employees their due emoluments.

He assured the labour unions that, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, his administration were ready and willing to implement the anticipated new minimum wage as may be agreed upon by the Federal Government and the organized labour.