By Roland Ike
The All Progressives Congress (APC) says the strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ebonyi is disappointing considering the state government’s efforts to enhance the welfare of workers in the State.
The State Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha made the remark in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki Thursday.
Okoro-Emegha said that civil servants embarked on the strike because some of their leaders might have succumbed to undue pressure from external forces.
“Governor Nwifuru has done exceptionally well in changing the lives of workers and other segments of the state.
“The governor increased their salaries by 20%, awarded N100,000 as Christmas bonus last year to each of them among other incentives.
“He is the first under the present democratic dispensation to increase workers take home even before the negotiation of the new national minimum wage of N70,000 but he increased it to N75,000,”.
The party chairman said that apart from these interventions aimed at cushioning the effect of economic downturn in the country, the civil servants also benefit from numerous government empowerment programmes.
“The governor voluntarily on assumption of office paid the gratuity arrears of all the state retired civil servants from 1996 to 2023 and currently working assiduously to ensure that local government workers get theirs soon.
“Although it is heart-warming that they have complied with the directives of the governor and have since returned to their various duty posts, they should not allow few politicians to manipulate them.
“Through words and actions, the Governor always reiterates that the civil service is the engine room of government and would not relent in charting a course that will improve the wellbeing of the state workforce.
“This is also contained in his People’s Charter of Needs agenda, compass of the administration.”
The party Chief enjoined workers to always employ dialogue in sorting issues of interest rather than applying “archaic and immature measures to frustrate the government.”
He appreciated Governor Francis Nwifuru for always taking firm and proactive postures in addressing matters of state importance.
