Niger State NLC urges Governor Bago to dismiss Labour Adviser and implement new transport allowance

The Niger State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has formally requested that Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago remove his Special Adviser on Labour Matters without delay. The demand was issued following an executive meeting at the Labour House over the weekend, where senior union representatives convened to discuss labour‑related issues in the state.

In addition to the call for dismissal, the NLC communicated that the governor should immediately begin implementing a new transport allowance of N70,000 for workers, a figure recently approved at the federal level by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The request was presented in a communiqué released to the press after the meeting.

The meeting, attended by veteran labour leaders and representatives from affiliated unions, concluded with several resolutions. While the congress expressed appreciation for the governor’s perceived interest in workers’ welfare, it also urged swift action on the demands it had articulated, including the adviser’s removal and the transport allowance rollout.

Background

The Nigeria Labour Congress, founded on 22 January 1995, operates as the country’s largest umbrella body for trade unions. Its Niger State chapter, like other state branches, engages directly with state governments on labour policy and worker welfare. The recent executive meeting at the Labour House, a regular venue for such deliberations, produced the current communiqué signed by the chapter’s chairman, Comrade Idris Abdul‑Kareem Lafene, and secretary, Comrade Maria Musa. The request for the adviser’s dismissal was made without an explicit rationale in the released statement, though it aligns with the NLC’s broader advocacy for responsive governance.

The transport allowance demand follows President Tinubu’s national approval of a N70,000 allowance intended to offset commuting costs for workers across Nigeria. The NLC’s push for immediate state‑level implementation reflects its role in ensuring that federal policies translate into tangible benefits for its members.

Why it matters

The NLC’s demands directly affect state employees and the broader workforce in Niger State, who stand to receive a significant increase in transport subsidies. The removal of the Special Adviser on Labour Matters could also signal a shift in the governor’s advisory team, potentially altering how labour issues are managed at the state level. The NLC’s public appeal underscores the organisation’s influence in shaping policy and holding elected officials accountable, especially concerning worker remuneration and administrative appointments.

What happens next

The communiqué does not specify a deadline for the governor’s response, but it calls for “immediate” action on both the adviser’s dismissal and the transport allowance implementation. The NLC’s next steps may involve monitoring the governor’s compliance and possibly organising further meetings or industrial actions should the demands remain unmet. No additional statements from Governor Bago or his office have been reported at this stage.