Hours to the commemoration of the 2015 Workers Day, Labour leaders in
Anambra State have lauded the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie
Obiano for taking the welfare of workers in the state to a new height
and setting a precedent in government and labour relations.
The Labour leaders who spoke in an exclusive interview in Awka to
herald the May Day celebration were unanimous in their position that
Governor Obiano had shown remarkable compassion in his relationship
with the organized labour, paying attention to their sensibilities and
listening to their needs.
Describing Obiano as a “Labour-friendly Governor,” the newly elected
Anambra State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Jerry Nnubia and the State
Chairman of the TUC, Comrade Okechukwu Ifeanyi observed that the
governor had shown extraordinary commitment towards the welfare and
working conditions of workers in Anambra State.
Enumerating the governor’s notable gestures to workers in the past one
year, Comrade Nnubia pointed at promotion and advancement, an increase
in workers’ salaries, opening of employment window, payment of a huge
backlog of arrears of salaries owed Water Corporation staff, payment
of Local Government Pensioners, the gifting bags of rice to workers
among others and finally submitted that, “from what governor Obiano
has done so far, I think it is clear that he is favourably disposed
towards the welfare of workers in Anambra State.”
Corroborating the NLC Chariman, the State Chairman of the TUC, Comrade
Okechukwu Ifeanyi observed that “the Pharaoh that knows Joseph has
come to the throne.’’ Hailing the governor for donating a brand new
Nissan bus to the TUC for the first time since it came into existence
in Anambra State, Comrade Ifeanyi noted that governor Obiano has
proved that he has the political will to formulate policies and
execute programmes which he said enabled him to approve the 15 percent
increase in the salary of civil servants in Anambra State.
The TUC boss further explained that “the adjustment entails that the
Local Government staff on grade level 10 receives same amount with the
civil servant in the State civil service,” stressing that, “for the
past ten years, successive governments in Anambra State failed to
carry out the adjustment in the spirit of justice, equity and
fairness, claiming that a huge capital was needed to settle the high
number of workers if the adjustment was effected.
“But when Governor Obiano came on board, he corrected the anomaly and
today there is parity in salaries received by civil servants in the
State and Local Government levels. We are happy with governor Obiano
for listening ear to our cries,” Comrade Ifeanyi stated.
The TUC boss also hailed the governor for cementing the bond between
the two labour bodies in the state, stressing that “since the coming
of the Obiano administration, NLC and TUC have been operating at par
and having a fair share of entitlements.”
The labour leaders however used the opportunity to plead for a
greater consideration by Governor Obiano, saying, “We are like Oliver
Twist and we’ll continue to ask for more especially when we have a
governor who has a listening ear. We need a little adjustment in the
salary, let me not call it minimum wage. His Excellency, Governor
Obiano should continue to adjust our salary. We believe that one day,
our salary will be at par with that of Federal Government workers. We
want Anambra State to become the first State to have workers’ salary
at par with their counterparts at the Federal level. We look forward
to that,” Comrade Ifeanyi enthused and urged his co-workers, “to be
more dedicated to duty and work diligently because to whom much is
given, much is expected.”