The President of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Mr Kiri Shuiabu, on Thursday told the federal and State Government to make payment of workers’ salaries priority to save workers from starvation.

Shuiabu made the call in Makurdi at the 67th National Executive Council meeting of the union.

According to him, most state governors even in this recession cannot manage bailout funds as huge backlogs of salaries are still being owed workers by various State Governments.

“Now the refund of over-payment done by the Nigerian government to the Paris Club is awaited, no governor should have an excuse of owing in any state again.’’

He lamented that most governors had embarked on projects such as roads with bailout funds when workers were going hungry, adding that public-private partnerships could take care of road projects.

The unionist urged labour unions to appraise the performances of governments in every state, to ensure that the right things were done.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Northern Governors

“We can get things done right even in this recession, if we insist on doing things right.’’

Shaiubu said that the Makurdi meeting would also deliberate on minimum wage and retrenchment of workers.

He said the union was looking into how to pull through the current recession and how the civil service could excel.

“The 2017 budget passed by state governors will be critically examined and evaluated at the meeting,’’ he stated.

Shaibu said the union would continue to stand against deductions from the wages of workers and the imposition of unnecessary taxes.

The Chairman of the union in Benue, Mr Kwaghmande Kwaghmande, commended the Benue Government for carrying the union along.

He said that although the state also owed its workers six months salary arrears, efforts were being made to clear the debts.

Branches of the union from the 36 states of the federation attended the meeting.

The union was founded in 1912 to protect, defend and promote the rights, well-being and interests of civil servants nationwide.