Settle backlog of gratuity, NLC Katsina pleads with govt

Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Katsina State chapter has appealed to outgoing administration in the state to settle backlog of gratuity to retiring civil servants before leaving office on May 29.
State chairman of NLC, Comrade Tanimu Saulawa in his address to mark the 2015 Workers Day on Friday, said the congress was disturbed by the serious delay experienced and approach adopted by Shema-led administration in the payment of gratuity to retiring civil servants.
“We cannot be indifferent to the fact that the retiring officers especially those at the local government have to wait for long periods of time before they are paid, while some died half way before they were compensated.
“We call on Katsina state government to settle all outstanding gratuities owed to retirees before May 29, 2015. We feel pension and gratuity payment must be considered as first delegation of government and not a liability.
Comrade Saulawa further called on the state government to tackle the issue of joblessness by way of providing employment to the teeming unemployed youth roaming the streets.
He said unemployment among the youth is one of the major issues that are responsible for almost all the social ills on our society.
Earlier in his goodwill message to entire teachers in the state, chairman of NUT, Comrade Siwidi Hassan called on incoming administration to reintroduce Teachers Salary Structure, TSS, suspended after implementation of minimum wage.