The organised labour in Ebonyi State said it will begin an indefinite strike on Tuesday July 21 following the inability of the government to pay them their salaries.
In a statement signed by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor, the Secretary Comrade Chukwuma Onwe and 34 others, organised labour lamented that their salaries are yet to be paid since the present government came into power on May 29.
“You may recall that workers in the state had on 9th April suspended her one-month-old strike after an agreement had been reached and signed between the organised labour and state government, where 50% out of 60% recommended and collectively agreed salary table submitted by the government-constituted committee of February 2015 headed by the state Auditor-General Chief Boniface Ezeagu.
‘’You may also recall that the present governor, while campaigning, had at the Peoples Club in Abakaliki promised to pay 100% minimum wage when he comes on board, prompting the workers massive support for his election.
“Alas! His Excellency has become a governor and today he is refusing to pay the existing salary structure not to talk of the 100% he promised.
“Comrades, as at today, the governor has refused to approve the payment of salaries of workers since he assumed office which is not only frustrating but unacceptable to Ebonyi workers.
‘’All these are happening in the face of the recent federal government’s release of intervention funds to states, including Ebonyi, to clear all backlog of salaries and pension arrears.
‘’In the light of the above, the organized labour in the state has resolved to resume the suspended indefinite strike action with effect from Tuesday July 21st, 2015. All workers in the state civil and public service are hereby directed to comply accordingly by staying at home until otherwise directed otherwise by the organised labour,” the statement stated.
Meanwhile, the state government has appealed to the workers to shelve the intended strike and be patient with government for the payment of their salaries.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, made the plea while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state’s Executive Council (EXCO) meeting.
Onwe noted that the government understood the plight of the workers and would ensure that the salaries and other entitlements are paid promptly.
“We know it will be helpful to the workers if they are paid in order to take care of domestic needs and engage in other activities such as farming.”
He, however, noted that strikes from history, do not solve labour issues, assuring that the government would remain indebted to the workers who were instrumental to its emergence.
“All contending issues surrounding the payment of the salaries would be resolved imminently, as a committee consisting of eminent personalities in the state, has been set to achieve this aim.”
He stressed that no bail out was given by the federal government but an option to borrow money, as the financial sleaze recorded under the previous administration placed the present government in a dire economic situation.
In a statement signed by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor, the Secretary Comrade Chukwuma Onwe and 34 others, organised labour lamented that their salaries are yet to be paid since the present government came into power on May 29.
“You may recall that workers in the state had on 9th April suspended her one-month-old strike after an agreement had been reached and signed between the organised labour and state government, where 50% out of 60% recommended and collectively agreed salary table submitted by the government-constituted committee of February 2015 headed by the state Auditor-General Chief Boniface Ezeagu.
‘’You may also recall that the present governor, while campaigning, had at the Peoples Club in Abakaliki promised to pay 100% minimum wage when he comes on board, prompting the workers massive support for his election.
“Alas! His Excellency has become a governor and today he is refusing to pay the existing salary structure not to talk of the 100% he promised.
“Comrades, as at today, the governor has refused to approve the payment of salaries of workers since he assumed office which is not only frustrating but unacceptable to Ebonyi workers.
‘’All these are happening in the face of the recent federal government’s release of intervention funds to states, including Ebonyi, to clear all backlog of salaries and pension arrears.
‘’In the light of the above, the organized labour in the state has resolved to resume the suspended indefinite strike action with effect from Tuesday July 21st, 2015. All workers in the state civil and public service are hereby directed to comply accordingly by staying at home until otherwise directed otherwise by the organised labour,” the statement stated.
Meanwhile, the state government has appealed to the workers to shelve the intended strike and be patient with government for the payment of their salaries.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, made the plea while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state’s Executive Council (EXCO) meeting.
Onwe noted that the government understood the plight of the workers and would ensure that the salaries and other entitlements are paid promptly.
“We know it will be helpful to the workers if they are paid in order to take care of domestic needs and engage in other activities such as farming.”
He, however, noted that strikes from history, do not solve labour issues, assuring that the government would remain indebted to the workers who were instrumental to its emergence.
“All contending issues surrounding the payment of the salaries would be resolved imminently, as a committee consisting of eminent personalities in the state, has been set to achieve this aim.”
He stressed that no bail out was given by the federal government but an option to borrow money, as the financial sleaze recorded under the previous administration placed the present government in a dire economic situation.
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