Pay N30,000, employees tell Obiano

Anambra State employees joined their counterparts across the country to demand payment of N30,000 new minimum wage, as they stormed Governor Willie Obiano’s office to protest against delay in implementing the new pay.

Addressing the governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, state Chairman of NLC, Comrade Jerry Nnubia, lamented that the new minimum wage was not in sight for workers even in the New Year.

“Workers had thought that they would have celebrated the New Year with the new minimum wage, and that did not happen, and up till now, we are still struggling for it. We urge the government to do the right thing because workers are suffering,” he said.

Speaking earlier, representative of the National President of NLC and Head of Industrial Relations and Liaison to the National Assembly, Comrade Uche Ekwe, noted that organised labour has been keeping records of compliance with demands for payment of the new wage.He cautioned that the outcome of the 2019 elections would be determined by the ability or otherwise of states and governors to pay.

“The workers will begin Operation Get Ready preparatory to a nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Monday. The real battle is about to begin. Gird your loins because the new-wage bill battle will commence, and we will never back down until the right thing is done,” he added.

After reading address of the National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba titled: Pay Us New Minimum Wage Now or Never, he gave a copy of his address to the SSG, Professor Chukwulobelu, for transmission to Governor Obiano. Reacting, Obiano who spoke through the SSG, said the state government will continue to identify with the demands of NLC on the new minimum wage.

He stressed that government had workers’ welfare at heart, hence its preparedness to pay as soon as the National Assembly and Presidency conclude on the matter.