Ebonyi Orders Workers Back To Work

The Ebonyi Government has ordered its workers, who embarked on strike over the non-payment of the N18,000 minimum wage to return to work from Monday.

In a release issued on Sunday, the government directed heads of ministries and parastatal agencies to open attendance registers from Monday to ascertain those, who would disobey the order.

The release was signed by Chief Fidelis Mbam, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Ugo Nnachi, Head of Service, Mr Chike Onwe, Commissioner for Information/ State Orientation and Mr John Nwokerekwu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Relations.

“The office of the Accountant General of the state has been directed to compute the workers’ September salary in consonance with government’s approved revised salary table,” it stated. .The government reiterated its readiness to continue discussions with labour in an effort to amicably resolve the dispute over the new pay.

“As a labour friendly government, it would explore all avenues to ensure that workers were adequately remunerated, to achieve maximum productivity.”

Reacting to the development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) urged workers to disregard the information and continue with the strike.

Mr Ike Abugu, NLC Caretaker Committee Chairman in Ebonyi, described the information as a ‘mere media hype’, adding that the government was insincere in its negotiation with workers.

“Workers should be assured that our national headquarters has taken over the strike, as no one would victimise them over its observance,” he said.