Excitement As Lalong Offset Backlog Of Salaries In Plateau

It’s no longer news that Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state has fulfilled his promise to the state’s civil servants by paying their backlog of salaries arrears up till December 2016 following the receipt of Paris club debt refund.

Indeed, this has earned the governor the appellation of as “Mr. Bank Alert Governor” by the elated workers who as a practical way of conveying their appreciation to the man that had put smiles on their faces, nicknamed Governor Lalong.

There is no contesting the fact that for any government to achieve meaningful development through effective implementation of its policies and programmes, civil servants’ welfare should be given top priority as they are the engine room of any government.

Indeed, prompt payment of salaries to enable average worker pay bills and importantly address other necessary essentials of human existence is central to the success of industrial relations the world over.

Back home in Plateau state, perhaps due to its fame as a civil servants state, business thrives more when salaries of civil servants are paid.

The state could be described as a civil service state because a good number of residents are in the employment of either the state or local governments.

It is generally believe among citizens of the state that for a governor to be adjudged to have performed well during his tenure, welfare of civil servants must be topmost, aside providing other basic social amenities.

On assumption of office, despite the dwindling resources of the state, Governor Lalong vowed to better the lots of people of the state and accord the welfare of civil servants topmost priority.

He had promised that his administration will reduce the human sufferings by uplifting the quality of life of civil servants and a vast majority of the people.

“Ours is a promise to create opportunities not just for those with the money and influence, but for every Plateau citizen who desires to have a meaningful and productive life,”he said.

It could be recalled that Lalong had inherited backlog of salaries and pension running into billions of naira and a huge debt profile from the immediate past administration in the state.

On assumption of office by Lalong, civil servants who were then owed up to seven months salaries, suspended their strike and resumed work.

The state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Jibrin Bancir had then said the NLC was taking Lalong by his word with the hope that he would pay part of the salary arrears he inherited promptly as he had promised.

The decision of the NLC did not come as a surprise as Governor Lalong had earlier made a strong appeal to the striking workers on the day of his inauguration, May 29th 2015 to resume work.

Also, in December 2016 during the unity service organized by the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Plateau state chapter held at the Region 8 Headquarters Church of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Jos, the governor had told the gathering that

“I can assure you that outstanding salary and pension arrears would be paid before the end of this year.

He further said “as from next week many would begin to see alert of payment on their phones, it is a promise I made during my inauguration and it has to be fulfilled, no civil servant will enter into 2017 with arrears of salary and pension.”

In keeping with his promises Governor Lalong was able to clear about five months of the salary owned the civil servants and following the receipt of the Paris refund in December 2016, he cleared the backlog of outstanding salaries and pensioners up to December 2016.

The he entire state erupted in jubilation as the state government commenced the payment few days to last Christmas.

There was heavy traffic as workers who received alert of up to four months salaries trooped out to make Christmas purchases.

Pensioners too were not left out, those who were on the sick bed received seven to nine months alert on their phones.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the sick became healed as a result of the governor’s unprecedented gesture.

Musa, a pensioner corroborated the view of our correspondent.

A civil servant said the bank alerts was coming so frequently to the extent that it has killed the battery of his cell phone.

Governor Lalong also disclosed that his administration had concluded arrangement to pay gratuities of all retired civil servants in the state.

He pointed out that the rescue administration had demonstrated its commitment to all serving and retired workers with the payment of not only salaries, pensions which has been cleared up to December 2016 in the state.

In his words “preparations are being finalized to pay gratuities of all retired civil servants in the state.

“The social welfare component of our five policy thrust takes cognizance of the value of the sacrifices of the serving and retired citizens, this is why we place premium on our legionnaires.

“With peace in the state, government has been able to fast track development in key sectors of the state and would be consolidating on these, with the passage of the 2017 budget which is before the house of assembly, he said.

It is against this background that the Plateau state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) recently commended Governor Lalong, for clearing the backlog of salaries and pensions owed civil servants and pensioners in the state by the past administration.

The NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Jibrin Banchir, stated this while addressing newsmen in Jos the state capital.

According to him “labour in the past administration suffered lack of salaries, promotions, pension and gratuity amongst other issues.

“ The relationship between labour and government in the past administration in Plateau came to its lowest due to lack of understanding, or better still deliberate government policy to frustrate labour and its affiliates , however Labour was resolute in defending not only the cause of the down trodden but its constituent the workers of Plateau state.

“The excess crude account and the huge federal allocation given to the last regime could not be utilised to clear salaries and pension to alleviate the suffering of workers and pensioners in the state.

Governor Simon Lalong took over when NLC and her affiliates were on strike over the nonpayment of salaries and pension and Gov. Lalong immediately engaged labour which resulted to the suspension of the strike, and subsequently re-opening of negotiations on pending issues including settlement out of court.

The NLC chairman said “NLC on the Plateau through a resolution of the state executive council reached last week, have resolved to in a special way to appreciate the government of Plateau led by Barrister Simon Lalong for the prudent utilisation of bailout funds and Paris club refund in settling outstanding salaries of workers and over eight months owed pensioners in the state.

“We commend our governor for the settlement, out of court in the case of no work no pay instituted against labour by the previous regime and for the release of promotion to deserving workers across the state service.

“As a union , we also hail governor Lalong for setting of committees to look into other pending issues with the aim of resolving same , “ in other to consolidate on these achievements , NLC is encouraging government to fast track the implementation of other outstanding issues and agreements.

“The NLC also appeal to the state government to continue with its efforts in the sustenance of payment of salaries and pension, in order to consolidate on the gains made so far in the state, and also consider the payment of accumulated gratuity to retirees to alleviate their hardship and boost the economy.

“Government should give approval and commence the housing scheme promised civil servants by providing land and infrastructure to reduce the shelter need of the work force and reconstitute all service commissions to facilitate the completion of all pending service matters “.

Bancir also called on workers in the state to put in their best to complement Governor Lalong,’s efforts as NLC would not support truancy and corruption.

“We call on civil servants in the state to support the Simon Lalong led administration as it has proven to be workers friendly, “he stated.