The chairman of the Association of local governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Ebonyi State chapter, Prince Chinedu Uburu has said that the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in the state was politically motivated.
The ALGON Boss who stated this in Abakaliki while reacting to the strike action declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC , over none implementation of the New National Minimum Wage described the action as unnecessary and falling short of expectations.
He maintained that governor Nwifuru as a worker friendly governor has not only implemented the minimum wage but has up-to-date payment of gratuity , twenty thousand naira wage award, procurement and deployment of 4 brand new CNG buses for free transportation to and fro workplaces, regular promotion and many others and wondered why labour should embark on strike action in the State
He urged the leadership of NLC in the state to toe the line of peace and dialogue to approach government, and should desist from being used by politicians to cause crisis and destabilize the existing peace and order in the state.
According to him: "I expected Ebonyi workers to be grateful to the governor, Francis Nwifuru and God Almighty for these increments they have been enjoying in the state. For me, I think that this strike is politically motivated.
"This is because I don't see any reasonable civil servants in Ebonyi state that will complain of non payments of salaries, gratuities and pension. And the state government is not owning any worker.
"I appeal to the workers to go into dialogue with the state government. For me, going into the strike is not the best. I urge Ebonyians not to allow politicians balkanize the peace and progress we are enjoying, because it won't be healthy for all of us.
In a related development, the chairman of ALGON, Ebonyi State and the Executive Chairman Ebonyi local government area, Prince Chinedu Uburu has appealed to Local government retirees in the state to be patient as necessary actions are being taken to pay over nine billion arrears of gratuity to retirees of LGAs.
"I want to urge the local government retirees to be patient with the council chairmen. Nobody is saying that they will not be paid gratuity and pension, of course, we are paying them pension every month. Their gratuity will be paid to them gradually.
"There is no way the local government system in Ebonyi state will wakeup one day and pay gratuity that ranges between nine to ten billion naria. We don't have the money. If the money is there, we pay them.
"How much is our allocation? How much do the LGAs in Ebonyi state earn in a month? Is not up to five billion, not to talk of something like nine to ten billion naria to pay gratuities. What it means is that the local government system in Ebonyi state will collapse.
"Even if you stop payment of salaries, it will not pay the gratuities. We plan to workout modalities wherein these monies will be remitted either monthly or quarterly in a year, so as to make up the money and pay the gratuities" he stated.
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