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NLC BLASTS EBONYI GOVERNOR, SAYS THREAT TO SACK WORKERS IRRESPONSIBLE, UNHELPFUL
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized the Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, over the threat to sack striking workers over the non-implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage.
Nwifuru, while addressing journalists on Monday in his office at the new Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki, threatened to withhold the workers’ salaries and replace them after their dismissal.
The Governor said the state government does not owe any worker, stressing it has also approved ₦75,000 as minimum wage and has already started paying.
However, in a statement by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, the labour body described the Nwifuru’s threat as irresponsible and urged state workers to intensify the strike.
The NLC noted that the Governor should invite the state’s labour leaders for dialogue to speed up the resolution of the minimum wage issue and not intimidate them with threats.
The statement read, “We are dismayed by the statement credited to the Ebonyi State Governor, Mr Nwifuru that except the striking workers in the state over non-payment of the National Minimum Wage resume work immediately they should consider themselves sacked.
“We recall that the strike action was preceded by failed conversations and notices to the Governor on the need to implement the 2024 national minimum wage since it was signed into law several months ago.
“The law has provisions for enforcement by workers. Beside this, a strike action is a lawful/legimitate tool in the hands of aggrieved workers.
“In light of this, we consider the threats by the Governor as irresponsible and unhelpful.
“What a reasonable Governor acting reasonably ought to have done was to invite the labour leaders in the state for dialogue for a speedy resolution of the facts in issue. But he thinks he is God.
“On our part, we want the world to know that Governor Nwifuru is the first to draw blood in a matter of which he is completely guilty.
“We also want the world to know that the right of response is available to us in pursuance of a just cause. Accordingly, the National Secretariat of the Congress has directed all the affiliates including those in the private sector to immediately join in the strike action. It similarly urged the workers already on strike to not yield to the threats of the Governor. They are to sustain the momentum until the Governor sees the need to not only behave properly but pay the minimum wage in compliance with the Law.
“In the coming hours, further directives will be given as we deem fit.”
