A coalition of labour unions in Kaduna State has lauded Governor Uba Sani for approving and implementing the new national minimum wage and consequential salary adjustments for all local government employees across the state.
The commendation came from the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) during a joint press conference held in Kaduna.
“A Governor Who Listens and Acts”
Union leaders Rayyanu Turunku (NULGE), Ibrahim Dalhatu (NUT), and Umar Fatika (MHWUN) hailed the governor’s move as a remarkable gesture of empathy, fairness, and genuine commitment to workers’ welfare.
They announced the suspension of their planned warning strike, following the government’s decision to implement the new wage structure for all local government workers — including staff under SUBEB and the Primary Healthcare Board — effective October 2025.
“Governor Uba Sani’s decision to implement the new wage despite fiscal challenges shows compassion, sincerity, and deep respect for the dignity of labour,” the union leaders said.
The unions praised the Sani administration for its sustained investments in education and healthcare, noting visible improvements across all 23 local government areas.
They highlighted achievements such as the renovation and modernisation of classrooms, the approval of a 65-year retirement age or 40 years of service for teachers, and the refund of over ₦500 million in ENDWELL savings deductions owed to workers.
They also commended the restoration of monthly ENDWELL contributions, describing the welfare scheme as a crucial safety net for teachers and their families.
The unions further applauded the administration’s staff verification exercise, which they said enhanced transparency and accountability in the public service, as well as the correction of check-off dues to strengthen union operations.
In the health sector, the workers’ representatives celebrated the governor’s far-reaching reforms, including the revitalisation of 255 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and the creation of 23 PHC Centres of Excellence across the state.
They also commended the plan to recruit 1,800 health workers annually over the next five years, and the full implementation of the 2024 CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures for medical personnel.
Kaduna State’s emergence as the 2024 Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge Champion for the North-West Zone, they added, was further proof of the administration’s leadership and commitment to service delivery.
Welfare and Transportation Initiatives Praised
The labour unions also hailed the governor for launching 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to provide free transportation for workers and students — an initiative they described as a timely and humane response to the economic strain caused by the fuel subsidy removal.
Reaffirming their dedication to peaceful engagement, the union leaders pledged to continue collaborating with the Kaduna State Government to consolidate the gains recorded under the Uba Sani administration.
“We urge our members to reciprocate the government’s goodwill through hard work, discipline, and professionalism,” the statement added.
The unions expressed optimism that Governor Uba Sani’s leadership would continue to strengthen the partnership between labour and government while promoting policies that uphold the welfare and dignity of Kaduna’s workforce.
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