How Gov. Lalong Representative And Plateau Labour Leader Bancir Were Booed By Workers During May Day Celebration

Yakubu Wuyep

 

It was a mild drama as on Tuesday during the May Day Celebration in Jos, the Plateau State Capital as the Anti and the Pro Plateau State Labour leader Comrade Jibrin Kamga Bancir clashed at the Rwang Pam Stadium.

 

It was learnt that angry workers demonstrated their annoyance by booing the Union leader as well as Governor Lalong who was represented by the Head of Service Plateau State, Comrade, Izam Azi.

 

It was gathered that when the Labour leader, Comrade  Bancir was about  to make his speech  the workers  started  shouting  ba mu Yi ka,(meaning  stop we don’t  like  you)  then  some of  his supporters  stood  firm in support of him, but in a short there was exchange  of blows  between those that are against him and those in his favour.

 

The exchange of blows that lasted few minutes attracted the attention of security personnel who moved in to quell the tension and took control of the situation.

 

However, the workers indicated the grievance by showcasing their permanent Voters Card   (PVC) ahead of 2019 general elections, as they expressed displeasure with the Governor and the Deputy Governor absence during an important occasion like this.

 

However, the Plateau State Council of the 2018 joint Nigerian Labour Congress, TUC May Day celebration witnessed heavy turnout of civil servants who were yearning for new minimum wage and change of poor condition of work.

 

Governor Simon Lalong promised implementation of the minimum wage to local Government and primary school teachers and mass enrollment of retirees into pension and payment of gratuity to retirees.

 

He said payment of outstanding 2012 batch C leave transport grant and that of no work no pay suffered during the former regime of Governor Jang and welfare package for workers, plateau State workers has commenced.

 

The Nigeria  Labour  Congress, chairman, Comrade  Jibrin  Bancir called on government without delay to pay the balance of the no work no pay it is owing to the local government workers primary school teachers and tertiary institutions.

 

He explained that lack of this payment of these legitimate earning after a consent judgment which elapsed on the 31st December 2017 is unacceptable and effort must be on deck to ensure it is cleared for industrial peace and harmony.