“Your Action Irresponsible, Unreasonable”, NLC Berates Gov Nwufuru

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero has urged Governor Francis Nwifuru to face reality and stop behaving like God.

This is just as he  Condemned in very strong terms, Governor Nwifuru’s threat to sack workers of the State who are presently observing a one week warning strike over disagreements arising from the payment of the N70,000 new minimum wage.

The Ebonyi State Governor on Monday December 2, 2024, while addressing the press at the Government House in Abakaliki, warned that he will sack and replace any workers who fail to report to his/her duty posts within the next 72 hours.

The Source reports that the State workforce had, on Sunday, November, proceeded on a seven-day warning industrial action as directed by the national leadership of the organized labour in protest against perceived failure of the state Government to properly address the issue of the new minimum wage.

The NLC and TUC national leadership listed about 14 states for such warning strike.

But reacting to the strike action, Governor Nwifuru insisted that there was no justifiable reason for the State’s civil servants to embark on the new minimum wage-induced strike as his administration has already commenced the implementation of new wage.

“If you (civil servants) don’t go to work ,not only that I will not pay you salary, but, also, I will replace you within 72 hours in your office.

“If I don’t see you in your office, consider yourself sacked. So far, I am not guilty. I am not owing you. I am paying what I am supposed to pay .

“If you don’t go to work within 72 hours ,I will replace you” Governor Nwifuru threatened.

But in a statement issued Monday night, December 2, Ajaero, called on the Ebonyi state striking workers not to succumb to any blackmail, but to remain resolute.

According to him, the strike should be sustained until the Governor does the needful

This is even as he urged NLC affiliate bodies, including the private sector to join in the strike ,not just in Ebonyi ,but also in other states where the strike actions are taking place.

The NLC President expressed shock over the stand of Governor Nwifuru who he said has refused to toe the path of negotiation and dialogue.

“We are dismayed by the Statement credited to the Ebonyi State Governor Mr Nwifuru, that except the striking workers in the State over non-payment of the national minimum wage resume work immediately, they should consider themselves sacked.

“We recall that the strike action was preceded by failed conversations and notices to the Governor on the need to implement the 2024 national minimum wage since it was signed into law several months ago .

“The law has provisions for enforcement by workers. Besides, this, strike action is a lawful tool in the hands of aggrieved workers.

“In the light of this we consider the threat by the Governor as irresponsible and unhelpful.

“What a reasonable Governor acting reasonably ought to have done was to invite the Labour Leaders in the State for dialogue for a speedy resolution of the facts of the issue ,but he thinks he is God .

“The World should note that Governor Nwifuru is the first to draw blood in the matter of which he is completely guilty of “, the NLC President stated.