CALL FOR PAYMENT OF ARREARS OF SALARIES AND PENSIONS TAKE CENTRE STAGE ON WORKERS’ DAY IN SOUTH EAST STATES

Activities were disrupted during the May Day rally in Umuahia Abia State as Pensioners stormed Ibeku High School, venue of the celebration to protest nonpayment of their over nineteen months arrears of pension owed to them by the State Government.

The Pensioners were dressed in black attires carrying placards with inscriptions like; “Payment of Pension in Abia State is a taboo”, “Stop this mercy killing, Governor Ikpeazu” “please pay us our pension arrears” among others.

In the same vein, the Organized Labour in Imo State has called on the State Government to clear arrears of salaries and pensions owed workers in the State.

The re-elected State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Austin Chilakpu made the call while speaking at this year’s May Day celebration in Owerri.

He regretted that staff of Ada Palm Plantation were owed over fifty four months’ salary arrears, those of State Agency for the Control of Aids were owed twenty seven months, Due Process Office, ten months while many Civil Servants were yet to collect two months arrears of their salaries.

Comrade Chilakpu noted that workers and pensioners in the State had gone through difficult times in the last eight years and urged Governor Rochas Okorocha to use the remaining days of his administration to put smiles on the faces of workers and retirees.

Correspondent Chinazo Ilechukwu reports that this year’s May Day celebration recorded low turnout of workers as Heroes square, venue of the event appeared scanty.

Meanwhile, Ebonyi State Government says plans are underway to set up a Joint Negotiation Committee for the take off of the payment of thirty thousand Naira new minimum wage to its workers.

Governor David Umahi stated this at this year’s Workers’ Day Celebration at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki.

Governor Umahi said though the wage bill of the State Government was close to three billion Naira, his administration was committed to paying the thirty thousand Naira new wage as approved by the Federal Government.

He pointed out that the new wage policy would be sent to the State House of Assembly for an appropriation that would empower the State Government to pay.

Governor Umahi however emphasised that for his administration to meet up with the new wage bill, those living in the State must be ready for upward review of taxes and fees in the area.

He stated that promotion of workers in the state would be based on vacancies while only those with computer knowledge would be appointed Permanent Secretaries.

Correspondent Amechi Odo reports that there was a mild drama, as Leaders of Organised Labour during the presentation of their demands, knelt down before the Governor to appeal to him to release salaries of workers withheld over communal crisis involving Ikwo, Izzi and Abakaliki Local Government Areas.

Led by the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Leonard Nkah, the Labour Leaders stressed that those affected had suffered untold hardship.

Comrade Nkah also appealed to the Governor to expedite action on the payment of the new minimum wage and build a Labour House for proper coordination of labour activities in the State.

Similarly, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has assured the workers in the State of the speedy implementation of the new minimum wage once the guidelines are out.

Speaking at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, Governor Obiano said all the demands made by the labour in the State had been fully approved, pointing out that he would not tolerate any form of corruption in the civil service in the area.

He said his administration placed much emphasis on the welfare of workers and called on them to be committed and dedicated to their duties.

The Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress in the State, Comrade Jerry Nnubia lamented that the rate of unemployment especially among the youths in the country had been on the increase.

He said, this accounted for the high rate of crimes in the country, such as armed robbery, kidnapping and insurgency.

Comrade Nnubia listed labour issues in the State that had been articulated and presented to the State Government over the years with little attention to them such as Contributory Pension Scheme, arrears of gratuity, disparity in salary structures of State and Local Government workers.

He applauded the National Assembly for passing the new minimum wage and President Muhammed Buhari for accenting to it.

Also, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress in the State, Comrade Ifeanyi Okechukwu appealed to Governor Obiano to implement last year’s labour demands such as payment of minimum wage, arrears of promotion and training of workers.

Correspondent kevin Ekediegwu reports that the climax of the event was a march past by various industrial unions in the State.

In Enugu State, a Cross Section of Labour Leaders and Workers have praised the good working relationship between them and the State Government while appealing for implementation of the new National Minimum Wage.

They made their feelings known at Michael Okpara Square during this year’s Workers’ Day celebration.

Some of them, Comrade Ezekiel Omeh, Comrade Ben Asogwa and  Jude Ugwuoke called for the full implementation of Consolidated Health Salary Structure, CONHESS to Health Workers in the State and review the existing faulty payment chat.

Also, the State Chairperson of NLC Women Committee, Mrs Ifeyinwa Ugwu and her Trade Union Congress Counterpart have appealed to the Government to increase more appointment of women in leadership positions.

Correspondent Ifeoma Amuta reports that the workers commended the efforts of the State Government in establishing Crèche at the State Secretariat to help Nursing Mothers in the State workforce.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, Enugu State Wing says it will remain uncompromisingly committed to better the lots of teachers in the State.

The Chairman, NUT Enugu State, Comrade Theophilus Odoh made this known to Radio Nigeria on the occasion of May Day celebration.

Comrade Odoh called on teachers to remain steadfast and committed to their duties especially as the recent calls for extension of service years of teachers had already reached advanced stage.

The Assistant Secretary General, Comrade Sam Umo Inyang further congratulates all Primary and Secondary School teachers in the State on the celebration.

NUT also used the occasion to thank Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for being sensitive to the needs of Teachers of the State.

But as workers in Enugu State gather at Okpara Square to celebrate this year’s Workers Day, some traders around the area have decried the decline in the level of patronage they enjoyed from the workers.

The traders who spoke to Radio Nigeria lamented that for some years now, the level of patronage had continued to go down.

One of them who deals in branded caps, bags, bands and assorted drinks, Mrs. Loveth Kama said it was worrisome that on a day like this, she had only been able to make one thousand naira sales noting that customers wanted to buy but complained of insufficient fund.

Another respondent, Mrs. Obiageli Okafor observed that there were times when they sold up to three to four crates of soft drinks on May Day but could hardly finish two crates at the Square.

Mrs. Okafor called on government at all levels to pay attention to the plight of Nigerian workers to alleviate the suffering of the people.

This year’s workers’ day celebration is being celebrated at a time when the International Labour Organization is celebrating its one hundred years of existence, having been founded in 1919.

Theme of this year’s Workers’ Day is, Another one hundred years of Struggle for Jobs, Dignity and Social Justice in Nigeria.

CORRESPONDENT REPORTS