May Day: Anambra Workers In A Rowdy Session, As Soludo Kept Mum Over Minimum Wage

Members of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Anambra State, Wednesday, were thrown into a rowdy session over Governor Chukwuma Soludo's refusal to address workers minimum wage and other issues before march pass.

The organised labour had at 2024 May day celebration held at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, the State capital, appealed to the governor to expedite action towards signing and implementing a new minimum wage and reintroduction of payment of ₦12,000 wage award to workers which he suspended after four months.

NLC and TUC made their positions known in a joint address read at the occasion by the State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, who also appealed for release of 2021/2022 promotion, conduct of 2023/2024 promotions, improved welfare of pensioners, recruitment of more staff in the civil service, among others.

But instead of the governor, represented by the State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, to address the workers, the protocols called on the union members to rather begin the usual march pass but they resisted with wild noise for about thirty minutes.

Also, when the governor's representative eventually mounted the stage to address the organised labour, he tried avoiding the issues raised by reeling out some infrastructural projects, teachers and health workers recruitments embarked upon by the present administration, thereby inducing another rowdy session that lasted for about 30 minutes.

Blueprint correspondent who was at the venue of the event reported that the governor's representative had to appeal to the workers that the governor love them and was working round the clock to improve their welfare.

His plea was heralded with the voice "Monitise the love! Monitise the love! Give us new minimum wage..."

He, therefore, explained that he would relate their demands to the governor as he was sure he would address their needs "so soon" thereby receiving a partial applause.