Kebbi NLC backs Idris, says Malami’s promises are ‘political statements’
The Kebbi State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress has dismissed promises made by the African Democratic Congress Governorship Candidate, Abubakar Malami, on workers’ welfare as “baseless political statements.”
While dismissing Malami’s promises, the union stated the former Minister of Justice failed to acknowledge what it described as improvements in the condition of service of civil servants under Governor Nasir Idris.
The NLC’s reaction followed Malami’s Independence Day broadcast during which he promised, among other things, to provide a “befitting Secretariat” and ensure prompt payment of workers’ rights and privileges if elected governor of the state in 2027.
Our correspondent reports that Malami, who served as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for eight years, is challenging the incumbent governor under the ADC.
Meanwhile, in his Independence Day message, Governor Idris commended the people of Kebbi State for their support for his administration, saying the government had recorded significant progress in education, infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, and peaceful coexistence.
The governor also acknowledged the contributions of traditional and religious leaders, civil servants, women, and youth groups, as well as security agencies, to the achievements recorded by his administration.
Idris, who called for continued support and stronger collaboration among stakeholders to sustain development and ensure result-oriented governance in the state.
However, Malami, in his statewide broadcast, focused on the welfare of workers and promised to provide a befitting Secretariat and ensure the prompt payment of their entitlements if elected.
Arewa PUNCH notes that his promises have since drawn criticism from the state NLC, which said they were unnecessary because, according to the union, several of the issues raised by the ADC candidate had already been addressed by the present administration.
Reacting through a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Abdullahi Idris Sadaukin Zuru, the NLC Chairman, Comrade Murtala Usman, said the union ordinarily avoided political controversies but was compelled to respond because the claims directly concerned workers.
“It is against the policy of the union to join issues with politicians, but when issues concerning workers are raised and presented in a misleading manner, we have a responsibility to clarify the position,” Usman was quoted as saying.
He added that workers in Kebbi State had “never had it so good” under any other administration until the Idris administration was inaugurated in the state.
The statement stressed that the Idris administration, particularly in the area of payment of salaries, allowances and other entitlements had performed creditably well.
According to the NLC, the state government recently paid more than N7bn in inherited arrears relating to gratuities, death benefits and leave grants.
The union also cited the implementation of the new minimum wage, saying the state government increased the minimum wage to N75,000, above the N70,000 national minimum wage approved by the federal government.
It further pointed to the provision of new coaster buses to facilitate transportation of civil servants to the state Secretariat and the commissioning of an ultra-modern Secretariat complex with a reported capacity of 25,000 people.
The NLC said workers had also been included among beneficiaries of the government’s palliatives, including agricultural inputs.
The union, therefore, described Malami’s campaign promises on workers’ welfare as an attempt to create the impression that the concerns of civil servants remained unattended to.
The statement also accused the ADC candidate of overlooking developments already recorded by the present administration in his Independence Day address.
The statement noted further that Malami’s political campaign comes against the backdrop of legal proceedings involving the former minister and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged illicit acquisition of assets.
The EFCC had secured court orders relating to the forfeiture of properties linked to Malami, while the former minister has denied wrongdoing. He is currently on bail in connection with the proceedings.
The controversy has added another dimension to the emerging political contest in Kebbi ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with the APC administration seeking to defend its record and the ADC opposition positioning Malami as an alternative.
The NLC, however, maintained that its intervention was focused on correcting what it considered misleading claims about the welfare of Kebbi workers rather than endorsing any political party.
“Civil servants in Kebbi have never had it so good as they are having under Comrade Governor Nasir Idris,” the NLC chairman said, according to the statement.
The union urged politicians seeking the support of workers to base their campaign promises on the realities on the ground rather than presenting already implemented measures as future commitments.
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