Enugu Govt’s Openness Excites Labour Leader

L-R: Acting Managing Director of Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC), Mr Fidet Okiriah, Director of Finance, Mr Felix Njoku and Regional District Manager, Eastern District, Mr Ola Adeeyinwo, during the visit of the Managing Director to NRC Eastern District in Enugu yesterday.

The Chairman of the
Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Enugu State, Mr Chukwuma Igbokwe, has attributed the industrial harmony in the state to the government’s openness to labour matters.
Speaking with newsmen Igbokwe said that the organised labour in the state had always participated in decision-making on workers’ welfare.
The TUC chairman, who spoke ahead of the 2016 Workers Day, said, however, that life had not been smooth for the workers in the state.
“I commend workers in the state even in the face of this hardship, they have been very supportive of this present government.
“There is no serious industrial crisis unlike what we see in some neighbouring states,” he said.
Igbokwe said that the government should be commended for placing workers’ salaries on the first line charge every month.
He said that the rise in the prices of goods had taken its toll on the workers in the face of the meagre salaries they earned.
“Though the salary is not much, we commend the government for at least sustaining the payment on the 25th of every month, even in the face of this economic downturn.
“But, we are saying it is not enough, because it is not the type of salaries we expect,” he said.
He called on the workers to shun any acts of sabotage and not to be used by any politician to achieve cheap popularity.
“Workers should remain committed while we continue to liaise with the government on how to improve their welfare as it affects salaries and other benefits.
“The good thing is that this government is open and carries labour along in its labour relations decisions.
“It’s only when we see that the government is irrational and deliberately withholding funds where it is available that we respond,” Igbokwe said.
Igbokwe said that the celebration of the Workers’ Day in the state might be in a low key as it would shelve some activities due to paucity of funds.
“We may shelve some of the things we had planned, which include free medical checkup for workers and May Day lecture for lack of funds.
“But on Sunday, all workers will be out for the celebration,” Igbokwe said.