•As Otti promises workers speedy, decisive state re-building
Workers in Abia State, under the aegis of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have tasked the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, to begin implementation of the just concluded promotions in the state from the April salaries.
The labour union in the sate also reminded the Ikpeazu of salary arrears of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Dedicating this year’s May Day celebration to colleagues and pensioners, who, they said, work under worst conditions and have kept the civil service’s dream alive, Chairman of the state NLC Caretaker Committee, Nweke Iheme, in his address, saluted the tenacity, altruism and sacrifice of Abia workers, as well as workers across the country, who, despite all odds against them, remained undeterred in their quest to contribute to building a great nation and Abia State.
He commended the thoughtfulness of the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, in directing one-grade level promotion to Abia workers, but urged him to effect implementation of the said promotion with the April 2023 salary.
Iheme also drew Ikpeazu’s attention to some areas he said needed his attention before he leaves office on May 29, top of which are salaries and pension.
He said that though salaries of core civil servants were paid up to February 2023, those of MDAs, as well as councils are in arrears.
He highlighted that pensioners are being owed 42 months and 21 years of gratuities, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, 43 months; Hospital Management Board, 16 months, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, 27 months; Abia College of Education, 32 months; Abia College of Health Sciences, two months. Others are Senior and Junior Secondary School teachers, 28 and 14 months salary arrears, respectively; Secondary Education Management Board and State Universal Basic Education Board, 18 and seven months etc.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party (LP) governor-elect in the state, Dr. Alex Otti, yesterday, sent a congratulatory message to Abia workers and their unions’ leaders on 2023 May Day commemoration, promising that he will move speedily, vigorously and decisively in the task of rebuilding the state, and in efforts to create wealth, jobs, prosperity and opportunities for people at all levels.
He said: “I have always held the view that a worker that is neglected or poorly treated is a threat to the economic prosperity of a state, and I argued that one of the ways to stimulate a depressed economy is to pay salaries and allowances, as well as pay contractors to inject funds into the economy, which will, in turn, lead to increased demand for goods and services, higher productivity and job creation.”
