NLC In Borno Has Promise To Provide 100,000 Face Mask For Workers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Borno has promised to distribute 100, 000 face masks and sanitisers to protect workers from the coronavirus pandemic and further contain the spread of the disease in the state.

The state leader of the organization, Bulama Abiso, said this at the 2020 May Day celebration on Friday in Maiduguri while stating that the current year’s celebration titled: “COVID-19 Pandemic and its Socio-economic impact on the Nigerian working class,” was held without funfair due to outbreak of the pandemic in the country.

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In his address, Bulama Abiso commended the state government for acting swiftly toward containing the coronavirus since it was first identified in the state.

“Dear comrades, it is no longer news that COVID-19 is real, as we gather here today, about five of our frontline health workers are currently at isolation centre as a result of contracting the virus.

“While also commending them for payment of stipends to the frontline health workers at the isolation centre, there is the need for the government to implement the hazard allowance approved by the Federal Government to health workers in the state,” Abiso said.

The NLC Chairman advised the workers to make sure they imbibe the culture of social distancing, wearing masks, regularly washing their hands with soap or sanitizer to stay safe.

While speaking on the welfare of workers, the Chairman urged the government to rescind its decision of suspending the promotion of civil servants until 2021.

The Borno NLC Chairman said that such a decision would undermine the productivity expected of the workers and create industrial disharmony along the line.

“The organised labour advises that proper and appropriate mechanism be put in place to check further abuse of the procedure if any, but not suspending a legitimate right of workers.

“The question usually asked is what will be the faith of a worker who is due to be promoted and proceeded for retirement within the period.

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“It will interest the government to know that workers in the state have been patient and tolerant for the past five years without any promotional benefit and all of a sudden rather than issuing a latter to stimulate them, the exercise has been halted.

“This, we believe will not augur well, we, therefore, demand for the reversal of the said circular,” he said.

He added that in the mood of COVID-19 pandemic, it was not good to put pressure on the government, rather, we strongly request the government to pay to leave transport grant and gratuity to both state and local government staff and retirees.