The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State for prioritising workers’ welfare, particularly the implementation of the National Minimum Wage and regular payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities.
Ajaero spoke on Friday in Gombe at the flag-off of the Gombe State Labour House, a project aimed at providing organised labour with a permanent secretariat.
He described Gombe as a young state making remarkable progress despite limited resources, and praised the governor for sustaining prompt payment of workers’ entitlements.
“With the implementation of the minimum wage, you gave workers food. With this Labour House, you are giving workers shelter,” Ajaero said.
In his remarks, Governor Inuwa Yahaya described workers as key partners in governance, noting that his administration has maintained continuous dialogue with organised labour to promote industrial harmony.
The governor said Gombe was among the first states to implement the National Minimum Wage and disclosed that over ₦33.283 billion had been paid in gratuity arrears to retirees.
He announced that the state government would fully finance the Labour House project and ensure its completion within six months.
Earlier, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Yusuf Aish Bello, commended the governor for his labour-friendly policies and efforts at addressing pension challenges in the state.
The event featured the laying of the foundation stone for the Labour House by the governor, alongside the NLC president and other officials.
