Local Government workers shut down Plateau state, shun revenue collection

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From Francis Nansak

Thirteen local government areas out of 17 LGAs in plateau state have persisted on protest running into 4 weeks ,to press home their demands over non implementation of #30,000.00 minimum wage.

The protesting workers have however, reiterated their resolve to continue with the protest untill the state government implement the constitutional National minimum wage,as directed by the federal government.

It was on this background,that they have shut down the council Secretariat in langtang North ,as monitored by our correspondent on Thursday.

Apart from closing down of the council Secretariat,they embarked on street procession from the council Secretariat,where they gathered every morning,to a community market at Pajat, covering about 2 kilometers on foot.

The workers led by the branch secretary of NUT comrade Gangven Gangtim ,ordered that the traders should henceforth stop giving money to any person in the name of revenue officer,under the umbrella of the local government levy,saying any one found so doing is not a genuine local government worker,therefore should be disregarded.

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” We are all on protest,so any one coming to you as a revenue collector is fake,except such officer is from the state revenue office.

Comrade Gangven who said he is the langtang North Branch secretary of the Nigerian Union of Teachers(NUT) added that they are on a very serious mission but a peaceful protest, expecting that the state government will listen to their cry and also hacken to their demands,pointed out that they are exercising their constitutional right.

He said,the national minimum wage was established in the country with hope that every state should cue into action and that the state governor,in his wisdom constituted a committee in that respect,which they have perfected work on the issue, submitted their report,since March 2020 expectantly to be implemented.

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” We are still waiting for the government to implement this #30,000.00 ,but the coronavirus outbreak engulfed the world .

” So we kept mute ,thinking the government in their wisdom,will call us back for further negotiation,yet such was not done instead,a declined untill in October 2020,that they agreed to implement the minimum wage for the state and local government workers.

” However,and to our greatest dismay the implementation was only to the state workers,while the LGs workers were neglected” He lamented.

Comrade Gangtim, further explained that the current agitation was hinged on the ground that government most as a matter of concern and commitment implement the minimum wage to LG workers, because any thing that has to do with the law can not be negotiable.

He debunked the rumour of having been sponsored by the oppositions,stating that no individual,group,or organization is behind their protest,as it is their legitimate right to fight for it.

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” You know they have been telling us that the third tier of government are the ones responsible for the implementation of the minimum wage ,which is a lie,because, if the local government are financially autonomous,then what is the need for JAAC meeting with the state government?

” Why then are the officials of the Ministry for local government and Chieftaincy affairs being paid from the local government funds?

” So we are calling on the state government to rethink and do the needful,so we can continue with our lawful duties” Comrade Gangtim concluded.

Four local government,particularly from the state governor’s zone that includes Quan-Pan, Shendam, Wase and Mikang, exempted themselves from the protest, nevertheless the workers said for Two months they have not been paid their salaries.

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