Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf who disclosed on Wednesday in Kano while addressing workers on the occasion of the 2024 May Day celebration in the state stated that the government was in talks with stakeholders to bring back the scheme in the interest of the workers.

Governor Yusuf who was represented by his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam, said his government has initiated move to ensure that reasonable proportion of interested workers desirous of owning decent shelter eventually realise their noble aspirations.

He further described the withdrawal of the state from the National Housing Fund Scheme as devastating and a setback to the state workers.

According to him, “As one time civil servant, I am aware of the challenges of ownership of shelter of the majority of civil servants under the prevailing harsh economic condition and housing deficit in the nation.

“To mitigate the challenge, our administration is engaging with all relevant stakeholders including the organised labour leaders to explore feasible and mutually assuring and beneficial ways and means for workers to own a decent and affordable shelter under the national housing fund scheme.

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“The government has already initiated the move and all arrangements are on top gear to facilitate this important aspect of our lives to our workers and make it affordable as possible,” Governor Yusuf said.

He noted that the scheme is being explored after the state pulled out from the housing scheme 20 years ago, emphasising that available facilities and other benefits that could have been accessed and enjoyed from the Federal Mortgage Bank by Kano citizens have been lost with the withdrawal.

“On this goal, let me state the readiness of the Kano State government to provide land for the commencement of the construction of the houses as soon as the parties arrived at consensus.

“Similarly, we are also aware of the existing deficit in our urban and rural infrastructure and maintain an unwavering resolve and commitment to address it,” the Governor assured.

Governor Yusuf however reiterated the commitment of the government to the welfare of the workers, while appealing for sustained industrial peace and harmony in both the public and private sector of the economy in the state.

Earlier, the Chairman, Kano State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Kabiru Inuwa charged the state government on the need to revisit the payment of wage award that was only paid once.

Comrade Inuwa also called on the government to look into issues of the backlog of unremitted pension contributions by some organisations with a staggering accumulation of over N75 billion as of May 2023.

“As labour leaders, it is our priority to highlight and pursue our challenges and demand through the famous philosophy of cooperation, collaboration and contestation. Because any trade union strategy that is not workers driven is subversive and must be resisted by the members,” Inuwa said.

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“The issue of the backlog of unremitted pension contributions by some organisations is alarming, with a staggering accumulation of over N75 billion as of May 2023. This poses a serious threat to the financial security of our retirees. The non-remittance lead to deductions of pension thus, nonpayment of full pension for years.

“While we commend the present administration for commencing full payment of pension, we demand that all defaulting government institutions shall commence paying the backlog to enable settlement of retirement and death benefits.

“We are sure that if elaborative analysis of the backlog is done and a strategy to recoup the money is put in place, the accrued benefits could be settled within few years.

“The payment of wage award that was only paid once needs to be revisited. Workers rely on these awards to improve their standard of living, and a consistent payment schedule shall be established to ensure their welfare is safeguarded,” the NLC Chairman stated.

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The strike action is aimed at drawing attention to the union’s demand for discussions on the implementation of the Wage Award agreed between the Federal Government and organized labor.

Comrade Ibrahim Walama, the General Secretary of NUCECFWW, explained in a statement made available to The PUNCH that the decision to embark on the strike was a result of employers’ refusal to engage in discussions with the union regarding the wage award implementation.

READ ALSO: Kano demolitions: Trader group seeks justice for 30 dead members

The statement read, “Following the decision reached at the joint NEC Meeting of NUCECFWW/CCESSA held on Thursday 25th January 2024, over employers’ refusal to discuss with NUCECFWW/CCESSA the implementation of the Wage Award agreed between the Federal Government and organized Labour. The Joint NEC of both Unions has directed all members of the union to proceed on a three-day warning strike, starting from Monday 5th February 2024, on the first instance to press home our demand.”

Walama emphasized that members were urged to ensure total compliance with the strike, and further information and directives would be communicated through the union’s relevant platforms.

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This development adds to the ongoing labor actions, as the Nigerian Labour Congress had previously directed affiliates to withdraw their services nationwide from November 14, 2023, to protest various issues, including the assault on the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and other executives in Owerri, Imo State, as well as pending labor issues in Imo State. The strike was called off to address grievances against the government’s responsibilities.”

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Leaders of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association, on Thursday, said over 30 of their members lost their lives as a result of the demolition of their shops by the Kano state government.

Our Correspondent reports that the Association dragged Kano state government to court, claiming damages of N30 billion as compensation for the demolition of their shops at the Eid Ground.

However, through out-of-court settlement, an agreement was reached that the state government would pay N3 billion in three instalments.

Briefing journalists at Kano Press Centre, lawyer to the victims, Bar. Ma’aruf Muhammad Yakasai, said they have already received an alert of N1 billion for the demolition.

But they insisted that justice must be done to their members who died as a result of the demolition, including those who sustained varying degrees of injuries.

Bar. Yakasai read before journalists, a letter addressed to Kano State Commissioner of Police, entitled: “COMPLAINT OF CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, THEFT, CRIMINAL MISAPPROPRIATION AND MISCHIEF CONTRARY TO SECTIONS 97, 286, 308 AND 326 OF THE PENAL CODE, LAWS OF KANO STATE OF NIGERIA, RESPECTIVELY, AGAINST ENGR. ENGR. RABI’U MUSA KWANKWASO, Dr. ABDULLAHI BAFFA BICH; H.E Engr. ABBA KABIR YUSUF AND Engr. MUHAMMAD DIGGOL AND Others.”

The letter dated January 3, 2024, was signed by Auwalu Sa’idu Umar, Chairman and Ibrahim Salisu Nyas, Secretary, of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association.

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The letter reads: “The above-named Association is duly registered under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 as incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association (hereinafter called “the complainant”). Its members comprise of owners and traders occupying more than 6000 shops.

“We the members are only known as peaceful traders who only carry out lawful businesses within the area curved out from the Kofar Mata Eid-ground by Kano State Government and allocated to various individuals for commercial purposes.

“Shortly before the 2023 Gubernatorial election, some of the Suspects (more particularly the leader of the ruling party NNPP, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso) were heard and seen physically and over the media repeatedly, stating unequivocally, that if his party won the election, they would demolish all the structures/shops (own by our members) at the Kofar Mata Eid-ground.

“Subsequently, NNPP emerged as the winner of the election, and His Excellency, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf was sworn in as the Governor of Kano State on the 29th day of May 2023. Unfortunately, even before cabinet members were nominated and appointed, H.E. Abba Kabir Yusif, formed a committee with the sole responsibility of carrying out the demolition exercise.

“The 5th day of May 2023 was the black day to the traders and owners of shops and thousands of people getting their means of livelihood in the area.

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“At about 01:00 hours, after we all closed our shops and businesses, the democratically elected Government of Kano State, under the leadership of H.E Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, without any notice or opportunity for our members to park their goods and other movable properties, with no iota of sympathy, demolished the structures/shops in the area.

“Selfish individuals with criminal minds were also encouraged by the Government to loot our properties as the demolishing was ongoing. They described our properties as public properties and declared the same as free for all.

“Consequently, the suspects succeeded in destroying all the structures/shops/ goods and monies (cash) kept in some shops, rendering the victims helpless, poor, and jobless without any justification whatsoever. Some of the victims lost their lives, and some are now patients with different sicknesses, including the killer ‘stroke.’

“The victims’ orphans and children are left with no parental care and attention, many are rendered homeless; poor or no education, medical care, because breadwinners are either dead or have lost their means of livelihood. The total estimated value of the properties lost and destroyed is two hundred and sixty billion Naira (N260,000,000.00).

“Unfortunately, instead of receiving an apology from the state Government, the Government officially stated that “it has no regret over the demolition exercise”. Also, the leader of the party (Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, added salt to the injury, and reminded us of his pre-election promise, to demolish our hard-own properties/shops.

“He further described our wealth as useless and proudly confirmed that he had fulfilled the promise. He added that he would have destroyed the structures even if it is over 1,000 stories.

“We know as a fact that the Government has the power to revoke any right of occupancy but only for overriding public interest. Also, a sufficient notice must be served and compensation paid before the revocation. These requirements were never satisfied by the Government, no attempt was made whatsoever. It is also against the Law to carry out such an operation in the middle of the night

“Dissatisfied with the act of the suspects, our client instituted an action seeking for the enforcement of their fundamental right to own property enshrined under Chapter 1V of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) before the Federal High Court in suit No. FHC/CS/208/2023 between the Incorporated Trustees of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association and Kano State Government & Ors.

“The Court has heard from both sides and having considered the extent of the damages over our lost properties, granted judgment in our favourzelices and in fact directed the Kano State Government under the leadership of the Suspects to pay punitive and exemplary damages toments to the tune of 30 billion Naira Only, and declared the demolition exercise as unconstitutional, illegal and contrary to the laid down laws.

“We the members of the Association have suffered from psychological trauma as a result of the unlawful acts of the Suspects either directly or indirectly, destruction and loss of their properties worth billions of Naira which were stolen in addition to loss of business and means of livelihoods.

“It is against the above background that we are appealing to your good office to cause a criminal investigation to be conducted in this case with a view to ensuring that justice is done to. We are asking your good office to conduct a thorough criminal investigation into the matter, especially concerning the offences against property and humanity, as some have passed on, some are sick as a result of the torture, and the rich are now poor.

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“We need the criminal aspect to be investigated and the guilty to face the full wrath of the Law. We also urge your good self to consider and build on the judgment of the Federal High Court, Kano Division that described the action of the suspects as illegal, unconstitutional and barbaric.

“We are ready at the appropriate stage of the investigation to provide all the available evidence and records in our possession to support the allegations against the suspects. Please note further that the suspects have never denied the demolition.

‘Thank you in anticipation of your prompt response and action.”

(Leaders of Masallacin Eid Shop Owners and Traders Association briefing journalists at Kano Press Centre on Thursday)

Source: Sun newspaper

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