NLC, TUC urge Governors on enrolment of workers in NHIS, NHF

[FMINigeria]

                        The Nigeria Governors' Forum has been called upon to collaborate with the Federal Government in the provision of basic amenities to the country's citizens particularly in the areas of access to healthcare and affordable housing.

Nigeria Labour Congress Chairman, Plateau State Chapter, Comrade Jibrin Kanga Banchir who made the call alongside his Trade Union Congress of Nigeria counterpart, Mrs. Dinatu Assani during the Centenary May Day Rally held at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos stressed the need for State Governors to ensure that workers in their respective states are enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and National Housing Fund (NHF).

According to Comrade Banchir the NHIS is a national scheme and will eventually affect all states. He therefore called on the state governments to make contributions at least two years upfront for their workers as a trial.

The NLC Chairman further called on Government at all levels to scale up interventions in developing affordable housing for workers noting that this will reduce the high level of poverty and social decline in the State.

While describing the workers in Plateau State as most peaceful, most enduring and most hard working, Comrade Banchir however lamented the nonpayment of salaries to Local Government workers for four months saying this posed a challenge to development.

On her part, the TUC Chairman, Mrs. Assani attributed corruption, high rate of unemployment, insecurity in the land among others as factor militating against national development. She further urged Government at all levels to consider the plight of the people most seriously.

The Governor of Plateau State, Dr. Jonah Jang who was represented by the Plateau State Head of Civil Service, Mr. Ezekial Dalyop applauded the sincerity and doggedness of workers in the State and promised that Government would live no stone unturned to bring succor to them.

While assuring that his Administration was people oriented, the Governor appealed to workers in the State to be patient with the ongoing biometric capturing exercise explaining that the exercise was aimed at cleansing the State's Civil Service of ghost workers.

According to Governor Jang, the state will also join the contributory pension scheme to address the sufferings usually experienced by pensioners in accessing their pensions during retirement adding that plans are also underway to construct housing units that would enable workers access affordable and decent houses.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria