…As Otti promises implementation of new minimum wage
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Workers in Abia State, have threatened a showdown with the State Government over delays in the payment of the N35,000 wage award announced by the Federal Government
after the removal of fuel subsidy.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, who made the threat in his address during Workers’ Day celebration Wednesday in Umuahia, said that any further delays in the payment of the wage award could pitch workers against Government.
He pleaded with Governor Alex Otti to expedite action on the wage award to cushion the effects of the economic hardship caused by fuel subsidy removal.
The NLC Chairman commended the Governor for clearing pension arrears, and appealed to him to also defray the outstanding salary arrears of some parastatals in the state.
He enumerated the affected parastatals to include: Abia State University Teaching Hospital ABSUTH Aba, owed 21 months; Health Management Board, 15 months; staff of Abia Polytechnic, 33 months; and ABSU staff, 11 months.
Others are: Abia Line Network workers owed for 33 months; ABSEDA, 16 months; and Council workers owed two months, all by past administrations.
The NLC boss further reminded the Governor that gratuities were last paid in the state, 22 years ago, and pleaded with him to intervene.
This, he said, would “give hope to hopelessness in the workforce.”
NLC further sought the intervention of the Governor for the resumption of academic activities at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU, which was shut down since February following protest by students.
According to NLC, the intervention of the Governor has become imperative as the closure of academic activities in the institution is taking a toll on both students and their sponsors.
The NLC Chairman commended the developmental strides of the Governor and urged him to sustain the tempo.
Responding, Gov Otti thanked workers for their sacrifices towards nation building, describing them as agents of development and transformation.
He assured Abia workers that his administration would not only implement but backdate and pay arrears of the new minimum wage once the committee set up by the Federal Government reached a compromise on it.
He said that his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of workers in the state.
“We are still studying the announcement by the Federal Government on this. We shall take the lead in its implementation. We shall not only implement but backdate and pay the arrears once it’s agreed upon,” Otti assured.
He thanked Abia workers for their support as his “Government strives to rebuild the state from the ruins of the past.”
He explained that his recent decision to clear the backlog of pension arrears owed retirees by past administrations, was a demonstration of his regard for workers.
Otti declared that never again would the welfare of Abia workers be “an afterthought,” saying that he had made it a priority to pay workers’ salary every month before political appointees.
“It’s irresponsible to owe workers,” Otti added, while urging labour leaders to always speak out when they are denied of their entitlements.
“Not too long ago, we cleared the arrears of pension accumulated since 2014 according to the template we agreed upon with the leadership of NUP.
“During the campaign, the Labour leadership refused to speak out on whether or not they were owed. You should not keep quiet about your welfare.”
On, wage award, Gov. Otti promised to look into the request by NLC.
This, however, did not go down well with the workers some of who began to leave the arena murmuring.
