The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday commended the Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for prioritising the welfare of workers in the state and ensuring their salaries are paid regularly.

This commendation came a few days after a survey by the data company, BudgIT, that Enugu alongside Lagos and Rivers, are the only states currently meeting their recurrent needs.

The workers spoke during a solidarity rally organised to commemorate the anniversary of the colonial government’s slaying of 21 workers who were agitating for better working conditions on November 18, 1949, at the Iva Valley Coal Mine, in Enugu.

NLC’s Head of Industrial Relations and Organising Department, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboajah, who represented the NLC President, noted that it’s on account of this history that Enugu holds a special place in the annals of trade unionism in Nigeria.

“It’s instructive that on the eve of our coming here to commemorate that shedding of blood for workers to be emancipated and have decent lives, Enugu State received solid accolades as one of three states that is regular in taking care of basic responsibilities like payment of salaries and sundry workers’ issues.