By Abdullahi Adamu Gusau
The labour union in Zamfara State has honoured Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state with award of excellence, as the most compassionate governor.
On Thursday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) presented the Executive Excellence Award to the governor at the Government House in Gusau.
A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said that the award by the Labour Union appreciated Governor Lawal’s achievements in his first eight months in office.
According to him, the Zamfara State Government had consistently made the welfare of its workers a top priority right from the beginning.
Governor Dauda Lawal said that receiving the excellence award from Organised Labor would encourage him to work even harder towards the welfare of workers.
“My government will remain committed to promoting the well-being of Zamfara people, workers, and development. We have several plans to enhance our workers’ welfare, some of which are already underway.
“We have resolved the issue of outstanding salaries that we inherited from the previous administration, and we were able to provide the 13th-month salary for the first time in the history of our state. Additionally, we set up a committee to settle the debt owed to retirees from 2011 to date, which amounted to 13.4 billion Naira.
“The committee has already gone far with the authentication of data submitted by local government and state pension commission and physical verification of beneficiaries.
“Retirees from state and local governments will receive their owed gratuities as payments have been initiated.
“We promised to serve the people of Zamfara, to rescue and rebuild the state for the better. And that’s exactly what my government is doing. I want to thank you for this award of excellence. It holds a significant value to me.”
The Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress in Zamfara, Comrade Sani Halliru, and that of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Sa’idu Mudi, said the organised union conferred the award of excellence on Governor Lawal due to his unwavering commitment towards the welfare of Zamfara workers.
Leaders of the Labour Unions also highlighted that this is the first time in the state’s history that a governor has shown such rare magnanimity towards the workers.
