By Amos Aar
THE ORGANISED Labour in Benue State has agreed to comply with Governor Hyacinth Alia’s directive that Benue people should not join the 10-day nationwide protest planned by a coalition of civil society organisations billed to commence on August 1, 2024 against hunger and hardship.
Speaking at the IBB Square, Makurdi, where Governor Alia met with and addressed various groups on Monday not to participate in the planned protest, state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Terungwa Igbe, commended the governor for prompt payment of workers’ salaries from the 22nd of every month.
Comrade Igbe however appealed to Governor Alia to pay up the accumulated arrears of salaries and pension which he said he had started paying.
“Our people have already accepted that they are not going to participate in the protest for two reasons: number one, if we say that we are not hungry, we are deceiving ourselves; everybody is hungry, Your Excellency.
But the problem is that when you took over the mantle of leadership, you started paying salaries on the 25th. Let me tell you that your name has changed now to 22 because people are receiving their salaries on the 22nd. So, there is no way the organised labour will embark on protest.
“If they are to embark on anything, they will embark on something to commend you as governor of the state.
“The second thing we want to say is that of arrears. We are appealing that you should continue, you have already started paying,” Igbe said.
In agreement with the NLC to drop the idea of participating in the planned protest include the state council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the National Association of Benue State Students (NUBESS), Benue Motorcycle Hirers Association (BEMOA), Amalgamated Benue Traders, APC ALGON state youth leaders, Alia’s Central Youth, amongst other groups.
