NLC urges Niger Govt. to pay outstanding gratuity, death benefits

The Niger Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has urged the State Government to pay outstanding gratuity, death benefits and pension arrears of retirees.

The state NLC chairman, Comrade Idris Ndako, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Thursday. .

He said that most of the civil servants who retired and were no longer alive were yet to be paid their entitlements.

He added that lack of prompt payment of retirees benefits had resulted to frustration and death of many of them.

Ndako appealed to the state government to as a matter of urgency off-set all outstanding benefits of retirees so as to enable them carter for their families.

He commended the government for the implementation of 7.5 per cent contributory funds of retirees as well as serving civil servants who were not on the new contributory scheme.

“Lack of prompt payment of retirees’ benefits and pension arrears in the past led some of the retired civil servants to frustration, of which many of them died in the process,” he said.

The NLC chairman also urged the State government to implement the 35 per cent salary increment for core civil servants on grade levels to enable them meet up with the current high cost of living.

“We want salaries of core workers in the state ministries, departments and agencies increased just like they did with workers in health, judiciary and teachers.

Only core civil servants on grade levels were still lagging behind.

“We have written a memo pleading with government to increase salaries of workers on this category to enable them meet up with the current economic challenges,” he added.