SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO LABOUR ISSUES INAUGURATED IN ANAMBRA

Also, a Ten Man Special Committee to look into outstanding labour demands in Anambra State has been inaugurated. The Committee which has the Deputy Governor of the State, Doctor Nkem Okeke as Chairman, has four months to submit its findings.

Inaugurating the Committee at Governor’s Lodge, Governor Willie Obiano pledged the commitment of his administration to promote labour friendly policies that would enhance the conditions of its workforce. Governor Obiano said government had engaged positively with the Civil Service through prompt payment of salaries.

He stressed that it was in a bid to enhance the welfare of workers that his administration increased their salaries by fifteen percent in 2015, stressing that promotion of workers would be effected by September this year. Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Doctor Okeke pledged that the members would do their best to address issues affecting  workers in the area.

Earlier in a remark, the Head of Service in the State, Mr. Harry Udu explained that the Committee was not a negotiating body but was put in place to advise the government on how to improve the welfare of workers. The issues expected to be looked into by the Committee are review and harmonization of Pensions, implementation of the new Contributory Pension Scheme, disparity in the payment of Local Government Doctors and Health Professionals, outstanding Judicial Staff Matters, General Salary Review, sixty five years retirement age for College of Education staff, among others.

KEVIN EKEDIEGWU