NLC hails el-Rufai, deputy over 50% wage cut

A factional Deputy President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Alhaji Issa Aremu, on Sunday commended the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai and his deputy, Mr. Barnabas Bala, for their decision to cut down their salaries and allowances by 50 per cent because of the bad state of the economy of the state.

Governor Nasir el-Rufai

El-Rufai, during swearing-in as the 22nd governor of the state on May 29, 2015 had announced the donation of 50 per cent of his salaries and allowances to the state, citing the dwindling economy of the state as reason for his action.

El-Rufai had said he and his deputy would continue to receive 50 per cent of their salaries and allowances until the economy of the state improved.

Aremu, who is of the Joe Ajearo-led NLC, simply described the governor and his deputy’s actions as leadership by example.

The NLC leader in a statement in Kaduna on Sunday noted that the organised labour was particularly encouraged by the commitment of el-Rufai and his deputy towards ameliorating the plight of the people of the state by donating 50 per cent of their salaries and allowances to the state.

He added that such a feat in the midst of a glaring “unacceptable gap between prohibitive tax-free pay of legislators, governors and political office holders on one hand and miserable pay of public civil servants on the other,” was worthy of commendation.

He therefore urged other political office holders to emulate el-Rufai and his deputy.

The NLC Deputy President said, “We congratulate the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el- Rufai on his successful swearing in as the 22nd Governor of Kaduna State on Friday, May 29, 2015.

“We are particularly encouraged by the determination and commitment of Governor el-Rufai and his Deputy, Mr. Barnabas Bala Bantex, to lead by example by sacrificing 50 per cent of their salaries and allowances until the fiscal situation of the state improves.

“The crisis of compensation in Nigeria is made worse by the unacceptable gap between the prohibitive tax-free pay of legislators, governors and political office holders on one hand and miserable pay of public civil servants.”