NLC Urges Payment Of Retirees’ Gratuities

The Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has appealed to Gov. Babatunde Fashola to pay the gratuities of the 32 retired workers of the state sports council.

The state NLC Chairman, Mr Idowu Adelakun, told journalists in Lagos that the entitlements should be settled to ameliorate the sufferings of the retirees.

He pointed out that the affected people left service between 2005 and 2008.

Adelakun called on the state government to enact a policy that would promote the participation of the youth in sports to boost its development.

“We appeal to the government to re-introduce its scholarship policy for outstanding students in sports.

“Government should also create avenues to attract and retain skilled professionals who would nurture young talents.

“That was the reason the union supported the call for the autonomy of the state sports council,” he said.

The NLC boss also pleaded with the state government to intervene in the payment of allowances and salary arrears of workers in the Lagos State Agricultural Development Authority.

“The agricultural workers are owed four months salary arrears in 2001, nine months arrears in 2007 as well as leave allowances from 2008 to 2011,’’ Adelakun said.

He said that the workers were suffering in silence and found it difficult to cope with the economic situation in the country.

He commended the government for the provision of infrastructure and urged it to ensure greater involvement of people in its development programmes.