The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra State has advised the state government to accept and also implement the new minimum wage of N18,000 for its workers, in its interest.
The congress also stated that contrary to what was reported in a national daily (not LEADERSHIP SUNDAY) recently, that the governor will not sack workers in the state as they were not as lazy as the state governor, Obi, was said to have made them look.
The state chairman of the congress, Comrade Tony Obianyo made this known to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY in Awka, after he met with his executives over plans for the two-week ultimatum handed governors by the national body.
Obianyo said that even though he has started arrangements to ensure that his chapter of the congress carried out the threat, he was confident that Anambra workers did not need much convincing to down their tools.
“Workers in Anambra State are already waiting for us to tell them to go on strike. They have been waiting for the opportunity, though we are meeting to ensure that nothing goes wrong. We are also advising the state governor, Mr. Peter Obi to pay the new minimum wage. We are sure he will heed our advice.
“It was in their interest that labour decided to bring the minimum wage down to N18,000. You remember that we started our request from N52,000 and latter came down to N25,000, and the governors were well represented in all the meetings. I remember that few months back they were demanding our votes, and they did not tell us that they will canvass for removal of petroleum subsidy. Now, they want to impoverish the people,” Obianyo said.
According to Obanyo, the minimum wage in the state civil service currently leaves the workers hungry in just above a week of payment, and such a condition could not motivate a worker to give his best. He blamed the action for the industrial action embarked upon by the medical and health workers association, as well as the state judiciary for the past five months.
LEADERSHIP SUNDAY investigations revealed that the current minimum wage in Anambra state stands at N8,000 and that the state governor was making arrangements to pay the new wage bill, while also planning to prune the work force in most ministries and parastatals of the state.
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