December 4th, 2024
On Tuesday, Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has slammed the Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, over his remark to sack workers who embarked on strike over the non-implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage by the state government.
Nwifuru made this remark in a live broadcast on Monday, kicked against the industrial action, vowing he would withhold the salaries of the striking workers and also replace any of them who failed to report to office in the next 72 hours.
He said, “If you don’t go to work, not only that I will not pay you salary, I will replace you within 72 hours. As far as I am not guilty, I do not owe you. I am paying you what is supposed to be paid and according to the agreement and constitution, I do not owe you. If you don’t go to work within 72 hours, I will replace you.”
He added, “I have called the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission. I have directed all the commissioners to go to their offices. All the agencies and all the departments of government must be in their offices and record the people that come to work.’’
In reaction to this, Ajaero fumed at the governor’s stand, describing it as irresponsible.
The labour leader said, “The law has provisions for enforcement by workers. Besides this, strike action is a lawful/legitimate tool in the hands of aggrieved workers. In 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 in issue. But he thinks he is God. On our part, we want the world to know that Governor Nwifuru is the first to draw blood in a matter of which he is completely guilty.’’
We also want the world to know that the right of response is available to us in pursuance of a just cause. Accordingly, the National Secretariat of the Congress has directed all the affiliates, including those in the private sector, to immediately join in the strike action.
“It similarly urged the workers already on strike to not yield to the threats of the governor. They are to sustain the momentum until the governor sees the need to not only behave properly but pay the minimum wage in compliance with the law. In the coming hours, further directives will be given as we deem fit,” Ajaero said.