NLC hails release of N1bn pension arears

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kebbi has commended the state government for releasing one billion naira for payment of outstanding pension of retired civil servants.

NLC Chairman Murtala Usman made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi.

Usman said the efforts of the state government deserved commendation for taking the bold step of settling part of the outstanding pension of the workers.

He said the backlog of pension was more than one billion naira though the pension liability was part of the debt inherited from the administration of Gov. Saidu Dakingari.

He said a committee that would conduct and monitor the payment had since been inaugurated, and they were expected to swing into action by next week.

The NLC chairman said the congress would ensure that the exercise was orderly.

Usman called on affected retirees to continue to exercise patience because Gov. Atiku Bagudu was committed to addressing the welfare of both retired and serving civil servants.

He also applauded the state government for settling the N500 million backlogs of tuition and registration fees of indigent students studying in tertiary institutions.

He said NLC would continue to suport good policies and programmes of the state government, stressing that the congress would not relent on welfare of workers.