Wages: Citizen Writes Zulum, Speaks for Teachers, Local government Staff in Borno

Alhaji Hassan Danda, a citizen of Borno state has written to Governor Babagana Umara Zulum asking him to change his administration style and give particular attention to implementing minimum wage for teachers and local government staff in the state.

He also drew the governor’s attention to wages and pension being received by some teachers and local government staff which stood at N4, 500 stating that the amount is an eye-soar and unimaginable for people who had dedicated their lives in the building of Borno state for 35 years.

In the letter, Mr. Hassan said, “you have performed excellently in the distributions of food items to IDPs, construction of township roads at your home town Mafa, and some parts of MMC, renovations of offices and resettlement of some IDPs. But sir, the bedeviling or shortcomings are more than your achievements.

“As our leader, it’s not wise to hide our identity to send you a written or voice message. Majority of our electorate wishes to express their minds, but due to fear of losing their jobs, schedules, property, and threats to life by your loyalists, makes them to ascribe everything to almighty Allah. 

“Sir, in this present situation in Borno State, it’s highly difficult or almost impossible to get one person out of 10,000 praising you and your administration. There are, therefore, the need to change your administrative styles because it is too boring. 

“If you doubt, please disguise as an ordinary person and move around the city to probe it yourself and judge whether you are loved or not. However, it’s not too late to rectify the situation.”

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He said some of the possible steps the governor should take to redeem his recent dwindling image amongst the people is by reinstating sacked teachers and LG staff who are without wages for 9 months now. 

According to Hassan, those that are found guilty, should be given amnesty and allowed to sit for SSCE, adding that If the Federal Government can give amnesty to Niger Delta Militants and Boko Haram, it is also right to consider other citizens with lesser faults. 

“Sir, you should implement the 18,000 and 30,000 minimum wage for teachers and LG staff. Since 2012 to date, they’re receiving the old minimum wage of 7500 naira. Sir, it’s their right not a privilege. 

“You should pay retirees gratuities and pension from 2018 to date. Also, you should upgrade the monthly pension of pensioners. Majority of them are receiving below 4,500 to 6,000 naira after successful 35 years in service. 

“Over six years now no payments of promotion benefits, leave grant and annual increments to either of the staff (both state and LG). Sir, food items are very costly due to market monopoly by the association members. Dissolve the commodity board, regulate and monitor the food prices.

 “There’s a problem of transportation due to the halting of tricycles by you ( Keke Napep), people are suffering, you should allow the entry of tricycles into the state. Sir, the problem of the city is not the high number of keke Napep, but inadequate township roads. Sir, there are no effective road linkages in the city. Again, sir, liaise with the Federal ministry for transportation to remove all rail lines in the city.

“Sir, try to employ our teeming youths without a job. The only job opportunity opened was keke napep. No single established industry or factory to employ labour. Sir, reduce the tax levy you introduced. It’s too early to collect tax in the state because the insurgency is not over and the taxpayers are the IDPs. What you are getting from NGOs, the federal government, and the North East Development Commission, are enough for you to run the state without collecting Kobo as tax. 

“Infact, starting from former Governor Maina Ma’aji Lawan to Senator Kashim shettima, none of them introduced a tax regime as you do. Sir, all the structures and it’s like in the state, was done by the former with Federal allocation.”

He added that the disaster done by Boko Haram in the last 12 years, can take another 12 years for the state to stabilize

Wages: Citizen Writes Zulum, Speaks for Teachers, Local government Staff in Borno