Retirement: Gov. Matawalle Encourages Workers To Start Own Businesses Before Retirement

Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle on Friday urged workers
to look inwards, diversify and start businesses that will form a
fall back source for their lives in retirement.

The Governor’s charge was contained in a statement signed by
spokesman Yusuf Idris Gusau and comes as the world celebrates
International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day.

According to the statement, Matawalle made the call when he
hosted the leadership of all 36 trade unions in the state under the
umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the breaking of
the Ramadan fast at his Gusau residence.

Matawalle, himself a businessman cum politician said his
administration is working on a programme to register and issue
certificates on all public and private properties in the state
which can be used in securing bank loans by interested workers to
establish their own businesses which they can use in sustaining
their lives after retirement.

He drew the attention of the civil servants in the state to be
careful and realistic in the agitation for the implementation of
the minimum wage saying once the resources are available, he will
implement without delay but that at the moment, Zamfara which is
one of the least collectors of monthly federal allocation has over
N1.6 billion deducted from source to service the debts it inherited
from the past administration.

The Governor said every month, the state is left with between
N1.8 billion and 1.3 billion to pay salaries to its over 28,000
workers as well as service governance but assured that he will not
sack or rationalize the workforce in order not to jeopardize homes
and dependants.

On security, governor Matawalle charged the workers to be more
vigilant in both their neighborhood and over their co-workers
following the recent arrest of some civil servants having hand in
criminality.

While commending the workers for their understanding and
commitment to duty, the governor assured that he will continue to
meet their demands as well as pay full monthly salary every month
without delay.

Earlier, the State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Sani Halliru
thanked the governor for hosting the workers to break the Ramadan
fast with him, praying Allah to reward the governor abundantly.

Comrade Halliru who commended the governor over his peace and
dialogue initiative with bandits, informed his host that some union
members from other states facing security challenges are now
calling on their governors to copy the Zamfara initiative so that
they can enjoy peace.

The chairman appealed to the governor to help the union with a
bus to ease part of its transportation needs.

The breakfast was graced by the Secretary to the State
Government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru, Head of Service, Alhaji Kabiru
Balarabe, Chief of Staff Government House, Col Bala Mande rtd, PDP
State Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Umar Danfulani, Commissioners, Special
Advisers and many senior government officials among others.

Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle on Friday urged workers
to look inwards, diversify and start businesses that will form a
fall back source for their lives in retirement.

The Governor’s charge was contained in a statement signed by
spokesman Yusuf Idris Gusau and comes as the world celebrates
International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day.

According to the statement, Matawalle made the call when he
hosted the leadership of all 36 trade unions in the state under the
umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to the breaking of
the Ramadan fast at his Gusau residence.

Matawalle, himself a businessman cum politician said his
administration is working on a programme to register and issue
certificates on all public and private properties in the state
which can be used in securing bank loans by interested workers to
establish their own businesses which they can use in sustaining
their lives after retirement.

He drew the attention of the civil servants in the state to be
careful and realistic in the agitation for the implementation of
the minimum wage saying once the resources are available, he will
implement without delay but that at the moment, Zamfara which is
one of the least collectors of monthly federal allocation has over
N1.6 billion deducted from source to service the debts it inherited
from the past administration.

The Governor said every month, the state is left with between
N1.8 billion and 1.3 billion to pay salaries to its over 28,000
workers as well as service governance but assured that he will not
sack or rationalize the workforce in order not to jeopardize homes
and dependants.

On security, governor Matawalle charged the workers to be more
vigilant in both their neighborhood and over their co-workers
following the recent arrest of some civil servants having hand in
criminality.

While commending the workers for their understanding and
commitment to duty, the governor assured that he will continue to
meet their demands as well as pay full monthly salary every month
without delay.

Earlier, the State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Sani Halliru
thanked the governor for hosting the workers to break the Ramadan
fast with him, praying Allah to reward the governor abundantly.

Comrade Halliru who commended the governor over his peace and
dialogue initiative with bandits, informed his host that some union
members from other states facing security challenges are now
calling on their governors to copy the Zamfara initiative so that
they can enjoy peace.

The chairman appealed to the governor to help the union with a
bus to ease part of its transportation needs.

The breakfast was graced by the Secretary to the State
Government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru, Head of Service, Alhaji Kabiru
Balarabe, Chief of Staff Government House, Col Bala Mande rtd, PDP
State Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Umar Danfulani, Commissioners, Special
Advisers and many senior government officials among others.