Jigawa State workers have rejected the N20.000 wage award announced by the governor of the state.
Governor Malam Umar Namadi of Jigawa State had, in a surprise move, announced the immediate disbursement of N20,000 to each civil servant, labelling it a wage award for two months.
However, this decision sparked discontent among workers who are now voicing their dismay, considering the prevailing economic hardships in the country.
Malam Ahmad, one of the frustrated civil servants, said he has received his own alert of N20,000 but lamented that the amount is a mere pittance in today’s economic climate.
”It is not enough to meet our basic needs”, he lamented
Another worker, Nafi’u, expressed concern, saying “With the rising cost of living, this amount seems insufficient to cover even essential expenses like transportation.
The workers asked the Governor to consider what other states and the Federal Government are doing to alleviate the sufferings of workers.
“Look at what Yobe, Kano, Borno and other states did to their workers and pensioners, although the amount is less than that of the Federal Government but is still far better than that of Jigawa.”
DAILY POST reports that the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in Jigawa State have collectively rejected the N10,000 wage award proposed by the state government.
They described the state government’s announcement of the wage award as premature, asserting that no agreement had been reached on the matter.
“The amount falls significantly short, especially considering the inflationary pressures and escalating prices of goods and services in the country.”
However, the state Head of Service, Muhammad Dagacire, claimed the state government is committed to ensuring the welfare of its workforce and the entire populace.
He said apart from the N10,000 wage award, the state government will also distribute food palliatives and provide farm inputs, including lands for every civil servant.
He said the aim is to alleviate the sufferings of civil servants and enhance productivity.