May 1st of every year has been set aside by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to celebrate those adjudged to be the cultivators, producers and growers of economic wealth of the society. It is in recognition of the strategic roles that workers play in the socio-political and economic development of any nation, the global community under the auspices of the United Nation strategically set up an arm to deal with the issues of Labour and to advance economic and social justice through the establishment of international Labour standards. It is important to note that these standards were aimed at ensuring accessible, productive and sustainable work worldwide in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity.
In view of the foregoing, government and workers all over the world have leveraged on the set standards to advance the cause of labour to achieve better working experiences, improved welfare and conditions of service.
The events marking the 2021 labour day might have come and gone, but the memories, the reflections of how workers has fared in the face of the dwindling economic resources and the erosion of the purchasing powers of the workers caused largely by the skyrocketing and embarrassing inflation visavis the interventions of many governments to ameliorate the sufferings of the workers have continued to resonate.
Beyond political rhetoric and gerrymandering, the governor of the coal city state, Rt. Honorable Ifeanyichukwu Nwa Ugwuanyi has again stood out as a solid factor to receive undiluted commendation from the organized labor in the state. May day which was celebrated around the country on the 3rd of May presented a veritable opportunity for the organized labor in Enugu to appreciate the hard working Chief Executive Officer of the state. It was a genuine appreciation devoid of political sentiments and based on verifiable indices.
It is important to note that Gov Ugwuanyi has consistently and genuinely courted the friendship of the organized labor in the state via his far reaching policies to put the workers on a pedestal of equal partners in progress.
It is on record that Gov Ugwuanyi is one of the few state governors in the country who accepted to pay the new minimum wage of N30 000 monthly to it’s workers. While majority of other state lenders are still grappling with their restive workers over the brohouha occasioned by the increase in wage bill via legislation and figuring out how to go about it, Gburu-Gburu has done much better by not just paying the wage as recommended but going ahead to pay so consistently on or before the 23rd of every month. Not done in his magnamity to appreciate and motivate the workforce, a 13th month salary has also been consistently paid into the coffers of the state workers. What a Labour friendly governor we have!
The Chairman of the organized labor in the state Comrade Nwobodo as well as his Trade Union counterpart, Comrade Asogwa was unanimous in their appreciation of Governor Ugwuanyi for what they described as the state government’s sustenance of prompt payment of salaries on or before 23rd of every month, pensions and other allowances notwithstanding the high level of wage bill occasioned by the new minimum wage. They asserted that workers of Enugu State have never had it so good since the present democracy and especially since the inception of the present administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Describing Ugwuanyi as “the most labour-friendly governor in Nigeria”, they concluded that Gov. Ugwuanyi, through the peaceful implementation of the new N30,000 minimum wage and its consequential adjustment he has broken the long history of industrial unrest, intimidation and neglect that heralded the previous minimum wage implementation in the state.
The Labour leaders were equally happy for the consistent payment of 13th month salary bonus to state workers from 2015 with the exception of year 2020 which witnessed global pandemic and its consequent economic hardship as well as the safety of lives and property, the peaceful co-existence of Enugu State people irrespective of their political, social or religious affiliations. Governor Ugwuanyi was equally lauded for the ongoing simultaneous construction of two ultra-modern secretariat buildings for the state chapters of the NLC and TUC, which further confirms the present government as an all inclusive one that embraces every group and individuals as partners in governance.
The administration of Gov.Ugwuanyi it must be emphasized has initiated and implemented policies in the recruitment of the teeming youths of the state and engaged them in the environmental cleaning exercises as well as traffic control to stem the rate of unemployment.
Governor Ugwuanyi has left no one in doubt that he has etched his name in the hearts of the people and written his name in the sands of time. History will surely be kind to him.
For Enugu state the hands of God ruleth!
BIBIAN ANEKWE NEWS…ADDED…The development of the society, state and nation is proportionate to the development of the human
Written by
Austin Okechukwu Chijioke.
Public Affairs Commentator
MEMBER, ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
