By Femi Bolaji

The Taraba State Advisory Committee overseeing the implementation of financial autonomy for the state’s 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) has reassured labour unions that salary payments will be prioritized.

Speaking at a consultative meeting with labour unions over the weekend, the Chairman of the Committee, Rt. Hon. Abel Diah, emphasized that the committee would recommend making LG workers’ salaries a first-line charge once direct disbursements from the federal government begin flowing into local government accounts.

"We are committed to the welfare of all workers," Diah stated. "This is why we will recommend that salaries of all employees under LGA payroll, including teachers, healthcare workers, and traditional rulers, are paid first."

He also stressed that amendments would ensure that all LG employees' salaries are treated as top priority and urged the councils to consistently remit union check-off dues. This, he noted, would help maintain industrial harmony between unions and management.

As union leaders play a crucial role in this transformation, Diah called for collaboration between local government authorities and union representatives to establish mechanisms for problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, and collective negotiations.

The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Baji Damuga, commended the committee’s approach and expressed commitment to work together. He also submitted recommendations on behalf of all employees on the LGA payroll.

Meanwhile, Taraba State Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas announced that civil servants would soon see an improvement in their wages. The government has started reviewing the current salary structure to align with the new minimum wage. 

In a broadcast to the state's residents, Kefas affirmed his administration's commitment to implementing the federal government’s minimum wage policy, ensuring better living conditions for civil servants and recognizing their hard work.