Workers’ Day: Niger NLC wants Bago to pay pension arrears

The organised Labour in Niger State has called on Governor Mohammed Bago to implement the new minimum pension and settlement of pension arrears in the state.

The workers under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC) and the Trade Union Congress TUC made the call on Friday during the 2026 International Workers Day¹.

Niger State NLC Chairman, Idrees Lafene, commended the government for the extension of service years for teachers, the implementation of Grade level 17 in the LG service, and the introduction of wage awards for LGA teachers to bridge the gap between the state and council workers’ salaries.

Lafene, however, called for the resumption of gratuity payments in both state and local government systems, the implementation of a new minimum pension, the settlement of pension arrears in the state, and urged the state to address the prolonged stagnation in promotion within the local government system since 2015.

“We commend the state government for the extension of service years for teachers, the implementation of Grade level 17 in the LG service, introduction of wage awards for LGA teachers to bridge the gap between the state and council workers’ salaries, among others.

“We use this occasion to call on the governor to resume the payment of gratuity in both the state and local government systems, the implementation of a new minimum pension, settlement of pension arrears in the state, and urge the state to address the prolonged stagnation in promotion within the local government system since 2015,” he said.

The Niger state Governor, represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, reeled out his administration’s efforts to promote workers’ welfare in the state and said his government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Finance for a Sustainable Integrated Productive Communities (SIPC) Pilot Scheme.

“The100,000 Hectares Model is an initiative that will enable workers and farmers to own homes through productivity-backed mortgage facilities, thereby integrating mass housing with agricultural settlements to boost workers’ efficiency.

“With this MoU, we reaffirm that the dignity of our workers is matched by the security of a shelter they can truly call their own.

“It is worthy of note that from 1999 to 2023, the pension liability defrayed by the government was well above N4 billion, while our administration, within the space of three years, had paid pension liabilities of N6 billion. This, therefore, demonstrates our commitment to the welfare of our workers and retirees in the state,” he said.