Plateau owes retired workers N12 billion gratuity – NLC

The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Plateau chapter, Jibrin Banchir, on Sunday said Plateau Government owed N12 billion as retired workers’ gratuities.

Simon Lalong, Governor, Plateau State.

Mr. Banchir told journalists in Jos that the amount covered 15 years of arrears.

He, however, commended Governor Simon Lalong for clearing the backlog of workers’ salaries.

The labour leader appealed to the governor to also pay gratuities of retirees, who had served the state since their youthful days.

“We recently met with the governor and we told him that Plateau Government is owing over N12 billion gratuity for a period of 15 years.

“We, therefore, appealed to the state government to explore all possible ways to pay it.

“We are monitoring the Paris Club refund, this is the first tranche, the second, third and fourth tranche will come.

“The Federal Government clearly said that 50 per cent of the Paris Club refund must be used in servicing workers benefits; salaries, pensions and gratuities.

“We are done with the payment of salaries and pensions, and if we get another tranche, we should use it to pay the gratuities,” Mr. Banchir said.

On leave and transport grants owed workers before consolidation in 2013, the labour leader said that the union was negotiating with the state government through the office of Head of Service.

NAN