Anambra State governor, Professor Charles Soludo, has affirmed that workers are indispensable and pivotal in the development of any society, as they are the driving force behind the attainment of the agenda for comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals in the state, Nigeria and the world at large.
The governor made this known while felicitating with the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, as they joined workers across the globe on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, for the celebration of International Workers’ Day held at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, the state capital.
Governor Soludo represented by his Deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, eulogised Anambra Workers for their diligence and resilience despite the economic woes bedevilling the entire country.
“Workers are indispensable and pivotal in the development of any society. The important roles that workers play in our State, Anambra cannot be overemphasized, and that is why we all deemed it necessary to celebrate every worker in Anambra State, Nigeria, and the world at large, as they mark this auspicious day.
“Without apologies, Anambra Workers are the best, and we will continue to do everything within our capacity to make sure that they do their work happily. It’s one of our priorities to see that the affairs of workers in our state are properly attended to by this present administration.
“To this effect, the labour of our workers will always be rewarded maximumly, as we all continue to promote hard work and accountability in the discharge of our duties,” he said.
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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in a joint address read at the occasion by the state chairman of NLC, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, appealed to the governor to expedite action towards signing and implementing a new minimum wage and reintroduction of payment of ₦12,000 wage award to workers which he suspended after four months.
They also appealed for the release of 2021/2022 promotions, the conduct of 2023/2024 promotions, improved welfare of pensioners, and recruitment of more staff in the civil service, among others.
Meanwhile, the deputy governor while responding to organised labour, tried to avoid the issues raised by reeling out some infrastructural projects, teachers and health workers recruitments embarked upon by the present administration, thereby inducing a rowdy session that lasted for about 30 minutes.
The workers insisted that the governor must address workers’ minimum wage and other issues before March pass.
The deputy governor had to appeal to the workers that the governor loved them and was working round the clock to improve their welfare. But the workers jointly responded “Monitise the love! Monitise the love! Give us new minimum wage.”
Ibezim therefore, explained that he would relate their demands to the governor as he was very certain he would address the workers’ welfare “very, very soon”.
The workers who partially applauded the deputy governor, later participated in the march pass.
