By our Correspondent
Member Representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency and Chairman House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, Chinedu Ogah, has appealed to civil servants in Ebonyi State not to participate in the on-going strike announced by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
According to him, joining the strike could be counter-productive, particularly as, he said, Governor Francis Nwifuru, has always demonstrated commitment to the Welfare of Ebonyi State workers.
Ogar maintained that joining the strike would amount to the workers shooting themselves on the leg, especially when the governor recently approved a ₦75,000 minimum wage, introduced an additional ₦20,000 wage allowance, and provided free transportation through Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for workers commuting to and from their offices.
The legislator stressed the importance of dialogue over industrial action, citing the example of workers in the College of Agriculture who have secured higher salary increments compared to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) by prioritising negotiation over strikes.
He urged the Ebonyi chapter of the NLC to engage in constructive discussions with the state government and to recognise the administration’s efforts in addressing workers’ needs, as contained in the People’s Charter of Needs Agenda.
According to Ogah, sustaining cooperation and dialogue is the most effective path to resolving any issues and advancing the welfare of civil servants, not through strikes.
He, however, reaffirmed his confidence in the ability of the state government and the civil servants to resolve any grievances amicably, and urged Ebonyi workers to halt the on-going strike.
Ogar’s appeal is coming on the heels of a threat by Governor Nwifuru to sack the workers if they did not return to work within 72 hours.
Nwifuru threat has since been dismissed as irresponsible by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
