May Day: Governors assure workers on welfare
NAN -H-43
Welfare
Abuja, May 1, 2017 (NAN) Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi on Monday directed that pension deductions be suspended in the state.
Umahi who gave the directive on the celebration of workers Day in Abakaliki also directed that already deducted pension be refunded to workers.
“We are going to suspend the pension law and all your desires will be taken into consideration.
“On May 15 every deduction made in respect of the pension law, will be refunded back to you.
“You will be the one to tell when the law should come into effect any moment it is convenient for workers,” he said.
He further instructed that accumulated promotion of workers should be released and also approved leave allowance of workers.
Ikpeazu further assured the workers that other outstanding requests will be given due reconsideration.
He appreciated the relationship existing between government and workers.
“On the issue of leave allowance from the mono-filament June, we will engage in gradual payment and will not stop until we finish and it will be sustained,” he added.
Leo Nkah, Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ebonyi council said that workers expect change in their welfare with the good relationship between government and workers, their solidarity and understanding.
He said workers strongly believe that their demands of promotion, leave allowances among other requests will be addressed.
“Our belief is that with the good rapport between government and workers, they expect turn around in their pockets, ” he said.
NAN reports that the event featured match pass from various unions.
Similar, his Anambra state counterpart, Gov. Willie Obiano assured workers of an increase in their salaries soonest.
He however urged workers to ensure that all linkages in the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) are blocked so as to hit a targeted amount for their salaries to be increased.
Obiano in his May Day speech also directed the chairman of state Civil Service Commission (CSC) to commence this year’s promotion exam.
“I want you to join me in making sure that all our IGR linkages are blocked so that as soon as we get to N2.4b from our present N1.4b, I will increase your salaries.
“I have directed the Chairman of the state CSC to start without delay the promotion of qualified staff due this year,” he said.
Obiano said that a 100 unit housing estate would be ready before November while amnesty he granted to 13 prisoners.
“The first batch of 100 workers in the state will benefit from the housing estate we are building at Isiagu, Awka South before November.
“I have ordered the release of 13 prisoners whose offenses are not grievous and want workers to participate in the validation exercise for them to vote,’’ he said.
Workers in the state led by their leaders had earlier endorsed the governor for a second term.
Also, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, thank the workers and unions for their supportive role in the development and ensuring industrial harmony in the state.
He noted that the state government had been in the fore-front of ensuring that workers’ salaries were paid regularly and promptly at the end of every month.
“I am quite happy today seeing our senior citizens – the pensioners – march pass with smiles as the state had already cleared arrears owed to them.
“While other states are currently lamenting economic hardship, our state is forging ahead with laudable developmental projects,’’ he said.
The governor, however, said that he had gone through and taken note of the myriad of demands and requests made by the unions.
“As a listening government, we will address these challenges one after the other based on available resources,’’ he said
Highlight of the day was the honour bestowed on Ugwuanyi by workers as a labour friendly governor.
Meanwhile, the Staff of National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu has decried non-full payment of their salaries since the beginning of January.
The Leader of the Joint Health Workers Union of the hospital, Comrade Cyprian Orjinta, expressed the displeasure at a side line of the Workers Day celebration in Okpara Square, Enugu.
Orjinta noted that the joint union had because of the development embarked on a strike over one week which had paralysed activities at the hospital
“As I speak to you now, the whole staff at the hospital did not receive their October, 2016 salaries. This is aside our agitation on the half salary payment since January of this year.
“We have checked with our colleagues in National Orthopaedic Hospitals in Lagos and Kano, they are not treated with these salary payment issues.
“We are yet to understand, while the branch of the hospital under the Federal Ministry of Health in the South East would be treated this way,’’ he said.
Orjinta, also lamented the disposition of the management of the hospital and its parent ministry which had not call for dialogue over the matter.
On the May Day celebration, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Enugu State Council, Comrade Chukwuma Igbokwe, commended Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on his development stride.
Igbokwe lauded the transparent disbursement of N4.2 billion bailout fund for payment of arrears of salaries and pensions of civil servants.
He said the union was also grateful for the 100 per cent application of the Paris Club fund on the payment of Local Government workers’ salaries.
“However, we are imploring the governor to ensure the implementation of the adjusted salary chart and Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) in state.
“We are also seeking the release of the result of the biometric exercise for parastatals and prompt payment of arrears of pension and gratuity in the state,’’ he said.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Virginus Nwobodo, express delight over the statement government’s steps toward ensuring labour harmony in the state.
“The NLC wants the centralisation of payroll system for local government as well as intervention to the non-payment of some parastatal.
“This also includes the clearance of arrears of salaries of parastatals and agencies especially that of the Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS),’’ Nwobodo said.
In a related development, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly said that Nigerian workers deserved to be commended for their perseverance, diligence and cooperation with governments.
Obasa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Musbau Razak, added that both government and workers must work together for the good of the masses.
“Workers are an integral part of any developmental programme of any government because they are partners in progress with government at all levels.
“We (governments) all have a duty to make life better for Nigerians in general, and to achieve this, we must continue to work together.
“Therefore, I want to implore workers not to relent in their cooperation and support for government at all levels,’’ the Speaker said.
“I salute your courage, cooperation and support for government at all levels which have contributed to the success recorded so far by government at all levels to improve the standard of living of our people.
“We are partners in progress with our joint aim being making life better for our people,’’ he said.
Obasa urged government at all levels to continue to work and put in place programmes and policies which would enhance the standard of living of the workers and also improve their welfare.
“The administration of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at all levels of government is workers’-friendly.
“We will continue to put in place programmes and policies that will improve the standard of living of the Nigerian workers as well as enhance their welfare,’’ the Speaker said. (NAN)
Reporters/NAN
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi