Low turnout of Workers, Gov. Obiano’s Absence Mar Labour Day Celebration in Anambra

 www.odogwublog.com reports that the May Day Celebration at Awka, the capital of

Anambra State, on Friday, suffered set back as a result of low turnout of workers to grace the occasion.

The workers day, which previously used to be a hub of activities and celebration galore managed to witness the presence of very few unionists even as the State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, among other top government functionaries were nowhere to be found at the occasion.

Although the event began at some minutes after one PM, Chief Willie Obiano had sent in his Deputy, Dr. Okeke to represent him at the occasion, and rather went for consecration of Bishops at Onitsha, which took place same day.

It was observed that almost the sitting positions left for workers including NUJ, NAWOJ, AMATA, and others remained vacant till the end of the programme, even as the population of the unionists on attendance could not even fill the various seats allocated for them unlike it used to be before now.

However, in his speech, the newly elected State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Jerry Nnubia implored the governor to provide the workforce with low cost housing and to fully implement the National Minimum Wage so as to lessen the suffering of workers.

Comrade Nnubia, who also stressed the needs for fully implementation of “Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS)”for health workers in the local government areas, urged the government to cancel all the contract appointments awarded to retired officers and outsiders, and channel same to youths as well as to appoint Special Adviser on Labour Matters with a view to engaging highly professional and likeminded youths for optimum service delivery.

He equally appealed for re-absorption and reconstitution of the members of Anambra State Water Corporation and Anambra State Marketing Company, payment of arrears of the staff of ANSEPA, payment of Uniform Allowances to Nurses, fully implementation of scheme of service for local government employees, establishment of Local Government Pension Management Board in the respect of the new contributory pension scheme, promotion exercise of local government workers, placement of governmental advertorials on the state owned newspaper-National Light, proper funding of Anambra State University, among others.

Also speaking, Comrade Ifeanyi Okechukwu, the Anambra State Chairman of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, while extolling the government for provision of buses and other incentives to civil servants in the state, called on the governor to checkmate the activities of proprietors of private hospitals, fuel stations, private schools, and other organizations so as to ensure they comply with lay down rules and regulations where applied.

Responding on behalf of the governor, his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke implored workers to remain steadfast in their sacrificial services to mankind, noting that the state government would continue to maintain good relationship with them for the purpose of industrial harmony, peace and development of the state.

The occasion featured match pass by the workers union on attendance. They include the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Nigeria Civil Service Union, Medical & Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Civil Service Secretarial and Stenographic Workers, Nigercat, IDC construction, CCC, Nigerian Union of Teachers.

Others were National Association of Nigeria Nurses & Midwives, Catholic Teachers Association, Road Transport Workers Union, NURTW, NULGE, Association of Senior Civil Servants, National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, RATTAWU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions.

Also on the match were National Union of Printing Publishing & Paper Product Workers, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Technical & Recreational Civil Service Employees, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Ocha Brigade, State Council of NLC and Young Artists.

By Okechukwu Onuegbu