The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna last Friday demanded for an upward review of workers salaries to alleviate their economic hardships.

State Chairman, Mr. Daniel Bissalla, made the demand when the executive members of the union paid Gov. Namadi Sambo a courtesy visit.

While noting that the current salary structure was not made by Sambo, the union leader said: "We, however, want the governor to as a matter of urgency set up a committee in the state to review upward workers’ salaries.

"It does not speak well of Kaduna state as a leading state in the north to be among those paying the least salary in the country."

He also appealed to Gov. Sambo to urgently look into the wage crisis in local government councils.

According to him, NLC has noticed that most of the local government councils can no longer pay salaries as and at when due.

"Most of the local governments resort to bank overdraft to pay salaries. We call on government to look into this case to avoid any industrial disharmony in the state," he said.

He also called on President Umaru Yar’Adua to adopt all the recommendations of the Justice Uwais report on electoral reforms, especially the ones that dealt with the appointment of Independent National Election Commission (INEC) chairman in order to have credible elections.

Responding, Gov. Sambo said the issue of wages would be looked into and directed the head of civil service to convene a meeting with the NLC on the wage issue.

The government pledged to pass NLC’s message to President Umaru Yar’Adua for appropriate action.

Gov. Sambo commended the union for the cordial relationship with the state government and urged the NLC to maintain it.