Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Ebonyi workers have raised the alarm over skyrocketing house rent and called for the provision of more housing estates for the labour force by Governor Francis Nwifuru-led administration in the state.
The workers stated this on Thursday in a joint address by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ebonyi State Council, on the occasion of the 2025 May Day Celebration at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Abakaliki.
They also called for the reinstatement of the bulk release of leave allowance in line with the realities of the New National Minimum Wage, 2024.
The State NLC Chairman, Prof Egwu Ogugua, while reading the address, affirmed that Governor Francis Nwifuru has on the assumption of office tackled challenges of Ebonyi workers’ welfare headlong, especially on offsetting the accumulated pensions and gratuities from 1999 till date.
He also commended she governor for the N100,000 and N50,000 bonuses with the N10,000 morning breakfast, provision of CNG buses for the workforce, among others.
He commended the governor for giving the workers, the opportunity to interact with them but urged him to provide more CNG buses for Ebonyi workers to ease their transportation challenges.
Egwu further urged Governor Nwifuru to increase the pension of retirees as obtainable in other parts of the country and equip government offices in the Ochudo Centenary City Abakaliki, the state capital.
The NLC Chairman equally called for the reinstatement of the full salary of staff of the Ebonyi State College of Education Ikwo, saying that “an additional monthly release of twenty-five million Naira only would solve this problem.”
Responding, Governor Nwifuru said his administration has already taken concrete steps to improve prompt salary payments, expand opportunities for capacity development, provide conducive workspaces, and review outdated administrative structures.
“Currently, we are not owing pensions and gratuities. We are putting in place, a system that clears your gratuity less than one hour after exiting our service as a retiree.
“This, you can agree with me, will reduce the risks of running around to process your retirement and its bottlenecks. I am glad to inform you we have reached an advanced stage in this regard,” he stressed.
The governor reaffirmed that under his watch, “Ebonyi State Civil Service shall be a symbol of excellence, integrity and envy of all,” saying he would continue to pursue merit-based advancement, continuous training, and a digital transformation of service delivery.
While assuring the Ebonyi labour force his readiness to formally address their demands as required by the workers’ rules of engagement, Nwifuru maintained that his administration would never relent in pursuing a reward system to ensure excellence, punctuality and professional discharge of assigned duties.
He assured that workers will be appreciated publicly and rewarded commensurately to encourage others.
He pledged a continuous prompt payment of salaries and urged every worker across the state ministries, departments, and agencies to reciprocate by ensuring the full discharge of their duties with the passion, integrity, and professionalism that Ebonyi people deserve.
