Subsidy: Zulum gives NLC N2bn for workers’ loan, raises gratuity

To cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has presented a cheque of N2 billion to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state for disbursement of interest-free loans to eligible workers with a repayment period of 24 months.

Zulum made the presentation during a meeting with the NLC officials led by the union’s chairman in Borno State, Comrade Yusuf Inuwa, at the Government House in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.

The governor however urged the NLC to complete talks with the state’s ministry of finance to determine the category of workers to be entitled to the loans as well the loan recovery through monthly deductions of not more than one-third of salaries.

He also announced the allocation of 30 buses to be dedicated to conveying workers in the metropolis at subsidized fares.

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The buses are to be managed by the Borno Express Transport Corporation but to be deployed at pick-up points along major routes to move workers to the Musa Usman secretariat in the morning and return them by evening from the secretariat to where they were picked in the morning.

Governor Zulum also announced 100 per cent increase in monthly releases for payment of gratuities’ backlog.

The payment was increased from N100 million monthly which equals N1.2 billion annually to N200 million monthly which will amount to N2.4 billion.

Governor Zulum further directed the state’s ministry of finance to clear backlogs of promotional benefits owed workers whose names were omitted during earlier payments.

The workers were those still being owed 2016, 2017, and 2018 promotional benefits after their names were omitted during payments approved by Zulum in 2019.

The governor, however, directed that workers owed 2019 and 2020 promotional benefits should all be paid while those owed from 2021 to date are to be paid based on the outcome of a recent promotional examination in which they participated.

On his part, Inuwa listed some demands of the NLC to include loans for workers who may want to do agricultural and other businesses or acquire some assets.

He also called for an increase in the monthly allocation for payment of mentions.

The NLC chairman thanked Governor Zulum for meeting top of their demands, hoping that the labour will continue engaging the Borno State Government for more demands to be addressed for the welfare of workers at the state and local government levels.

The Star