…Begs Gov Nwifuru To Dialogue With Workers Not NLC
Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
Across section of striking civil servants in Ebonyi State have described as ill-timed the warning strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC over the unresolved issues concerning the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage between the labour union and the State Government.
Some of the workers appealed to the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru to invite the workers to the Pa Ngele Orunta Township Staduim to discuss with the workers and listen to their complains and position on the disagreement and find a meeting point.
The workers while reacting to the industrial action maintained that while the strike action lasted, it is uncertain what the resolution would be and appeal that rather than continue in dispute, a dialogue will be most suitable for the amicable resolution of the crisis.
Some of the Workers maintained that while the NLC Chairman and some of his Executive members are certain of their December salary and other Christmas packages, workers in the State might not have anything to celebrate the season with.
One of them, Mrs. Faith Onwe said, I am certain that there are more to the strike than we are made to understand. Governor Nwifuru since assumption of office has been adjudged to be the most workers friendly Governor that is committed to workers welfare.
“In the history of Ebonyi, no Governor has celebrated the Christmas period the way he celebrated the season with us, Last Christmas Ebonyi workers were the envy of other workers across the country. What am yet to understand is what went wrong between us and our workers friendly Governor.
There was a contradiction on what the Governor informed the people during his press briefing and what the NLC Chairman Comrade Oguguo Egwu informed the press during his own briefing. So we are at lost of the true situation of things.
The NLC Chairman stated that the Governor refused to meet with the Leadership of the union and that they were able to meet with him just ones which was an unofficial meeting but the Governor in his reaction, said that the meeting was on the instance of the NLC leadership.
The Governor further said that he asked them the convenient place for the meeting, his office or house but the labour leaders choose house instead of office. Secondly, the NLC Chairman is yet to refute the statement of the Governor that he asked him to invite the workers to the staduim for a meeting with him, the question is, what is wrong with the Governor meeting with the entire workforce of the State, why must it be the labour leaders alone all the time.
We wear the shoes and we know where it pinches us. If the Governor wants to address the entire civil servants in the State, that’s ok for us. It will give each an everyone of us to air out opinion. All we want is for our welfare to remain one of his priority and to the best of our knowledge, we believe he is committed to it.
I am appealing to the Governor and the NLC to resolve the dispute as the workers in the State would not want to suffer further undue hardship that might he occasioned by the strike.
Another Civil Servant, Mr. Pascal Nnachi said, it is high time we begin to elect labour leaders that are also in the State payroll. While we in the State are on strike and not sure of our salaries, the NLC Chairman will enjoy his salary in FUNAI and all the Christmas packages accrued to him as a board member in the present administration.
We are tired of the unresolved fight with the government which has not benefited the workers greatly. They shouldn’t be feeding fat on our suffering. Let them find a way to resolve the dispute because we cannot afford to loss our salaries this December while he enjoys his.
Meanwhile, it is not certain what will be the outcome of the one week warning strike which hs ended this weekend.
