The Chairman Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), FCT chapter, Abubakar Alhassan Yakub has called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to provide protective gears and other incentives for the healthcare providers in the face of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
Speaking in commemoration of the 2020 Worker’s Day, Friday in Abuja, Yakub noted that the coronavirus pandemic has impacted negatively on the global economy and the work place.
“The Covid-19 came with its challenges especially on the health workers who are in the frontline risking their lives for us to live safe.
“I commend their dedication in the face of the daunting challenges of hazards in their work place. We call on the FCT administration to provide protective kits and other incentives for these health care providers.
“Furthermore this has also opened up a lot of issues surrounding poor health facilities in the rural communities. Therefore to be able to achieve universal health coverage for the populace, the FCT administration must look at primary health care facilities in the territory in other to make them functional.”
Speaking further he said that Nigeria which relies predominantly on crude oil exportation for most of its foreign earnings was in an economic dilemma hence the need for economic diversification, especially in solid minerals, tourism, agricultural and a host of others.
The labour leader commended the Administration for the distribution of palliatives to the vulnerable in the six area councils, however, stating that, “Though it was properly done in most councils some councils had serious issues during the distribution.
“We commend the federal government and the FCTA for implementing and paying arrears of the new minimum wage 2019. The area council workers and the primary school teachers in the FCT are yet to commence.
“We want to reiterate to the Area Council Management that the arrears are increasing from April 2019 till date. Therefore they must make hey while the sun shines.”
