Chris Ogbonna, the chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Anambra council, has urged Governor Charles Soludo to reinstate the suspended wage increase and maintain it until a new minimum wage is established.
He stated the severe difficulties and hunger faced by workers, highlighting the necessity of reinstating the wage increase to alleviate their suffering.
Ogbonna made this request during an interview with journalists in Okoh, Orumba South Local Government Area, Anambra.
He said the organised labour, in their 2023 discussions with federal government, agreed on the wage award to cushion the hardship experienced by workers as a result of fuel subsidy removal till a new minimum wage is agreed upon and implemented.
“Anambra government agreed to pay N12,000 to workers and pensioners in the state, this wage award only lasted from September to December 2023.
“Workers and pensioners in the state are in arrears of four months, we are the only state in the Southeast not receiving the wage award.
“Other states in the same zone like Ebonyi are still getting N10,000, Enugu N25,000, Imo 35,000.
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“Our governor is a member of the Federal Government minimum wage committee and is aware that conclusion is yet to be achieved and wondered why the wage award was stopped,” he said.
Mr Ogbonna said that both the state and the federal governments need to hasten the process of workers’ salary adjustment before everyone involved perishes.
He also called on governments to ensure that the cost of essential commodities are reduced to the level that Nigerian workers can breath and live.
“Fuel is sold between N740 and N900, government should put price regulations and see to its enforcement.
“Workers are dying emotionally and physically on daily basis and they have nothing to bequeath their children after 35 years of service,” he said.
Mr Ogbonna appealed to the state government to build a Labour House in the state as the organised labour desired a secretariat and event centre that would accommodate the services and needs of affiliate unions.
He said that other states including Imo, Abia, Delta, Rivers, amongst others, had their own secretariats adding that they would be eternally grateful if the governor grants this their age-long request.
Mr Ogbonna commended the state government on their efforts to provide good governance for people of the state and urged them to see workers as key players in development of the state.
