Unlike other states of the federation where workers’ day celebrations were given prominence, activities in Taraba State witnessed a lull as both the governor, Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, his Deputy, Engineer Haruna Manu and other top government functionaries boycotted the exercise.
Aside the Head of Service, Suzan Nathan, who was the only government official visible at the event, seats reserved for other dignitaries Saga Gist observed were unoccupied.
The absence of government officials was also noticed to have led to the low turnout of workers and other expected dignitaries to the occasion.
Only workers who participated in the match past were seen at the Jolly Nyame stadium venue of the workers day celebration.
Some workers who expressed dismay at the absence of the Governor and his Deputy also wondered why Ishaku continues to distance himself from the organized labour activities.
However, there are speculations that the governors’ apathy may be due to disagreements with the workers’ over the non-implementation of the approved national minimum wage of N30.000
Most of the workers who spoke anonymously blamed the leadership of the organized labour for the ill attitudes of the state government towards the workers.
“I must confess to you that workers in this state are the most unlucky workers in this country because we have a governor who is not workers friendly. ” An anonymous worker said.
Both government and private activities, it would be recalled were recently paralyzed following the industrial action embarked on by the worker which was later suspended even when their demands were not met.
The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Peter Jedeil in his speech said it has become necessary for the government to “honour its part of the agreement for the implementation of the new minimum wage which led to the recently held industrial action by workers in the state.
He, however, refused to make any reference to the absence of government officials at the event.
The Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state while aligning with the NLC said “the organized labour in the state is urging you to pay the new national minimum wage and its consequential adjustment to the workers of Taraba to help boost their productivity. “
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