Writing By Khadijah Aliyu; Editing By Godwin Duru
Casual staff of the Kano State Water Board staged a peaceful protest at the Kano State House of Assembly over the non-confirmation of their appointments and the alleged withholding of their six-month salaries.
The aggrieved workers urged the Assembly to intervene by compelling the state government to regularise their appointments.
They lamented that despite serving the board for several years, many of them remain casual workers.
Speaking to journalists, the Chairman of the Water Board Staff Association, Comrade Najib Abdulsalam, said the demonstration became necessary following what he described as prolonged neglect of casual workers who have spent 15, 14, 12, and 11 years respectively without confirmation.
He explained that the protest was to seek government intervention over the continued casualisation of staff and the non-payment of outstanding salaries, as well as what he called the questionable recruitment of new casual workers by the current Managing Director.
According to him, newly-recruited casual workers earn ₦20,000 monthly, while the old ones receive only ₦10,000.
Comrade Najib further noted that the law stipulates that casual employment should not exceed three months, yet some workers have served diligently for over a decade without confirmation.
He appealed to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to address the situation by approving their confirmation as permanent and pensionable staff and ensuring payment of their arrears, especially as the board had already concluded a staff audit.
Receiving the protesters at the Assembly premises, Chairman of the House Committee on Water, Alhaji Musa Haruna Tahir, assured the workers that appropriate action would be taken.
He said the Assembly will summon the Managing Director of the Kano State Water Board to appear before the legislators for further clarification.
Tahir urged the protesters to remain calm and promised that the House would investigate the matter and take necessary legislative measures.
Khadijah Aliyu
