I Have Fulfilled Promises Made To Labour—Obiano

Anambra State Governor Chief Willie Obiano today stated that the promises made to the labour at the inception of his administration have been fulfilled. The governor made the assertion when he received in audience a delegation led by the new Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Anambra State Chapter, Comrade Jerry Nnubia at the Governors’ Lodge in Amawbia.

Governor Obiano observed that though the revenue from the federal government had depleted, the payment of salary was not an issue, confirming that he had issued a standing directive that workers’ salaries be paid on the 25th of every month. According to him, “We take welfare of workers seriously because we know that motivation is important for optimum performance and the achievement of the goals we have set for ourselves in the state. Indeed Anambra is currently one of the states in Nigeria that pay salaries as and when due.”

He however reassured the NLC, Anambra state chapter that as the revenue of the state improves, the welfare of the workers would improve as well, noting that the government had earlier provided mass transit bus service for workers, increased the salaries by 15%, and also shared 50kg bags of rice for all workers in the state during the festive season amongst others.

On the efficiency of the workers the governor said, "There are obvious gaps and the approach of my administration is to focus on training and retraining of workers to enable them face the challenges and deliver especially in the revenue mobilizing effort of the government. Training is critical in service delivery". The Governor reiterated

Obiano explained that workers will be trained and moved to ministries where they will be most useful. He also ceased the opportunity to appeal to workers to take their duties more responsibly; endeavour to be at their duty posts and make maximal use of the working period as the government is doing everything possible to ensure that workers are properly taken care of. He also congratulated the new chairman of the NLC in Anambra state on the successful election and wished him a fruitful tenure.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and the state chairman NLC, Comrade Jerry Nnubia thanked the governor for the security in Anambra state and the giant strides in the administrations four pillars of government which include Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Trade and Commerce, and Industrialization. He however highlighted the major issues that the NLC Anambra state chapter needs government's attention, such as provision of low cost housing for the workers, cancellation of all contract appointments, implementation of National Minimum wage, implementation of consolidated Health Salary Structure.

Other requests by the NLC delegation include; the appointment of Special Adviser on Labour Matters, the problems of staff of local government, constructing of Labour House, as well as the issue the need to resolve issue of posting at the state Internal Revenue Service and threats of retrenchment of staff of Anambra Broadcasting Service.