The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) in Niger has urged the state government to increase its members’ salaries due to the hazardous nature of their jobs.

The state Chairman of the union, Comrade Usman Abubakar-Dabban, made the request at a reception organised for the workers to mark the International Workers Day in Minna on Thursday.

He said that since health workers were game-changers, there was the need to increase their wages.

According to Abubakar-Dabban, an increase of 150 per cent will justify the critical role health workers play in the healthcare system.

He lauded the governor and the Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba for implementing the new minimum wage of N80,000, which was above what was recommended by the Federal Government.

He hailed the deputy governor for initiating the building of the union’s hall when he was the chairman of the union, which would be commissioned soon.

He urged the union members to adhere to the ethics of the profession to ensure they enjoy the welfare they crave for from the state government.

Earlier in his remarks, Aminu Yusuf, Special Adviser to Niger governor on Labour Matters, lauded the workers for the reception.

Yusuf said workers day was a day for labour leaders to take stock of their achievements, consolidate on them and identify new challenges, so that they could open a new chapter on how to address them.