By Marie-Therese Nanlong
Jos – The Plateau State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Josephine Piyo, has restated the commitment of the Governor Caleb Mutfwang-led administration to improve the working conditions of the workers in the State as she stressed the workforce plays a critical role in the economic growth of society.
Mrs. Piyo according to a statement by her Press Secretary, Martha Nyam, gave the assurance in Jos on Friday during the 21st Annual General Meeting of Nightingale Welfare Scheme Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH.
She noted that the State government was aware of the numerous challenges citizens are being faced and is working to mitigate the negative effects of the challenges as she urged the citizens to make the needed adjustment and avoid unnecessary expenditures.
Her words, “As a government, we will continue to strive towards improving the welfare of our workers and retirees through regular and timely payment of salaries and pensions. Improving the working conditions in the State is top of our priorities and this is in the realization of the critical role workers play towards economic growth. When we assumed office on May 29, we met workers on strike due to a lack of payment of salaries and other incentives. This government immediately swung into action through various negotiations with the workers.
”We commend them for suspending the strike and pray we never return to the days where workers will down tools for such a long period over nonpayment of their entitlements. We will forge a synergy with workers in the State to run a transparent and responsive government that will improve every sector of the economy for the benefit of the people of Plateau State.”
The Deputy Governor pointed out the relevance of cooperative societies to the growth of the economy and advised workers in the State to save for rainy days while still in service.
Earlier, the President of the Nightingale Welfare Scheme, Mrs. Patricia Manasseh, thanked the Deputy Governor for honouring their invitation, explained that AGM avails members of the cooperative the opportunity to rob minds together toward meeting its objectives and charged the members to “remain resolute and work together despite the challenges being faced in the country because it would soon be a something of the past.”
In a goodwill message, the Chief Medical Director of JUTH, Dr. Pokop Bupwatda,
represented by Dr. Nankling Lamu applauded the cooperative for their consistency and their massive contribution and service to the hospital and acknowledged that it takes discipline, dedication and prudence to be able to achieve the much the members have achieved over the years.
