Workers Day Celebration-NLC, ULC plead with governments over workers salary, arrears

The Abia state councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) on Monday called on governments at all levels to ensure that their workers are paid promptly and as when due.
This year’s May Day theme is ‘Workers in a Recessive Economy: An Appraisal.’
Speaking at their separate march pasts in Ibeku High School and rally at Urban Primary School 1, Umuahia, the chairmen of NLC and ULC, Comrade Uchenna Obigwe and Comrade Christopher Uche Eziekel of NLC and ULC respectively also urged workers to give their best to the governments assuring that they would be paid.
In his speech, Comrade Obigwe commended the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on behalf of the Abia workforce for the judicious management of the 2015 bailout funds as well as the Paris Club refund.
Comrade Obigwe as well as his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Christopher Okpara, said Ikpeazu is the “only governor in all the states of the federation that constituted a two-partied committee, made up of government officials and labour leaders in 2017, to disburse the first tranche of the N10billion Paris Club refund to the state which was appropriated at the ratio of 50.50 for infrastructural development and payment of arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities.
“As a listening governor, instead of N5.3b for salaries and pension arrears, you magnanimously conceded 55.3 percent of the N10.6 billion to salaries and pensions.
‘’We are however using this opportunity to crave the indulgence of our dear governor as usual to shift ground when the 2nd tranche of Paris Club refund drops to enable the payment of arrears of salaries.”

The workers also lauded the governor for the level of infrastructural development being carried out by his government and urged him not to relent.

Responding, Governor Ikpeazu thanked Abia workers for their support, hard work and sacrifice which he said is responsible for the achievements he has recorded in office and implored them to partner his government to record greater accomplishments.

While admitting that he is not satisfied with the condition the Abia and Nigerian worker finds themselves, he said he looks forward to better days ahead for the Abia worker, adding however that there is no longer opportunity for free launch for any lazy worker in the state.

The governor maintained that parastatals were expected to generate enough funds to be self sustaining but regretted that this is not the case with many of the establishments.

Also in his speech, Comrade Uche Eziekel thanked Ikpeazu and his government for giving ULC equal rights and privileges as accorded NLC and TUC in the state.
He described workers as the bedrock of any society or organization and assured them that the Abia state Government is geared towards prompt payment.
Supporting comrade Eziekel, the state chairman of NUPENG, comrade Godwin Ukwu assured Nigerian workers that their welfare is the priority of ULC.