Enugu State is unarguably one of the leading states in the country with about 75 to 80 percent turnover in the population of the civil servants. The implication is that quite a large percentage of the populace are contributing to the state GDP through government establishments and are in turn largely dependent on the government for their livelihood as well. It is therefore not in doubt that in most states where this condition is found, the recurrent expenditures of government are always on the high side that so little is left for the capital expenditures. This condition has always posed a serious challenge to the governments of these states. The challenge has often had to do with the inability of governments of these states to meet up with the mounting wage bill of its civil servants population.
It might be important to pin point that where such scenarios such as the one painted above existed, the issues of corruption and fiscal indiscipline on the part of government has often been the major contributor to the indebtedness on the part of government to its workforce. Misplacement of priorities, misappropriation and misapplication of funds have often dealt devastating blows on successive governments of most states leading to a humongous unpaid wage bill. We are often regaled of how not quite a few civil servants unable to withstand the long months of unpaid salaries have often buckled under the wait of huge credit they took from different sources while waiting for their salaries that never come. Most of them have often kicked the bucket for the sheer frustration that they could no longer bear the anguish let alone meet up with their obligations and responsibilities.
In most of these circumstances, the government of the day would have either turned a blind eye to the obvious sufferings of its workforce or resort to arm twisting them to accept pay cut or lay off commonly regarded as rationalization. The point I am trying to make is that government were so unfeeling or so it seems. Which responsible government would ever want to toy with its workforce considered a formidable engine for economic and socio-political growth of any society. Much as these ill treatment of civil servants have endured in most states of the Federation, Enugu State inclusive, the w.
It is pertinent to mention that Enugu State civil workforce has had its fair share of disappointments and frustrations in the hands of past administration until the coming of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Workers have often witnessed long months of unpaid salaries not to talk about gratuities of retired workers leading to gnashing of teeth and undue frustrations. This has truly led to so many untimely deaths by retirees and even serving workers. What is more, while government of the day keep denying the workers their rights on account of paucity of funds, those who are close to the government, party faithfuls and the likes are often seen around living ostentatious lifestyles to the eternal chagrin of those sweating for government and getting nothing as rewards. Today, the narrative have changed for good. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has not only ensured that workers in Enugu get their salaries as at when due in spite of the global low economy, he treats them like Kings and Queens that they truly epitomize. Gburu-Gburu understands that the Enugu civil servants are like the fowl laying the golden egg for the socio-political and economic development of the state.
When the debate on the establishment and implementation of the latest minimum wage raged, governor Ugwuanyi was among the first few leaders who agreed to pay its state’s workforce the agreed salary increment with its consequential adjustments. Till date, Gburu-Gburu has kept faith with the state workers and has never failed to pay what has commonly come to be regarded as the 13th month salary to them. In all these, it has often beat one’s imagination how the administration of Ugwuanyi has been pulling all these magic in spite of the very worrysome economic challenges in the land. Going by his antecedents, one would never fail to give it to Ugwuanyi that he is a prudent and disciplined manager of resources. Besides, he understands his mandate to the people. He is people and peace driven at all times. So while other state’s leaders are embroiled in a tug of war with its workforce over non payments of salaries and even arrears of salaries, governor Ugwuanyi is having it smooth with his workers.
It should be placed on record, that since the assumption of the current administration of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in Enugu State, the state workers have never embarked on any industrial action in comparison to the trajectories before his emergence as the Governor in 2015. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has truly cut a picture of one who is at peace with God and humanity. Even when the recent uproar about the appropriateness or lack of it of judicial autonomy across the states boomed leading to a call directing all judicial workers in all the states to embark on strike action to press home their demands, Enugu State Judicial service workers was caught in a dilemma on whether to join in the strike action. Their dilemma stems from the fact of the robust relationship Governor Ugwuanyi has had with the state workers irrespective of group or department of every worker in the state.
I would not conclude this piece until I have equally mentioned that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s homeliness and friendliness is what is working for him. He is open and transparent in his administration. He carries everybody along and listens to everyone. What is more? Governor Ugwuanyi built and delivered gigantic state Secretariat complexes to the two prominent Labour Unions – the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in the state capital of Enugu. This is considered a brave approach to cement the relationship existing between the government and it’s workforce.
Today, when we shout that Enugu State is truly in the hands of God, discerning minds should truly understand that this mantra is working and would continue to work.
Bibian Anekwe News added – “Leadership is working with goals and vision: management is working with objectives”
\Written by
Leonard Ugwu
A Political Analyst
Media Team Member of ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
