Abia ‘ll pay, backdate implementation of new minimum wage – Gov Otti
* As workers demand action on wage award
By Steve Oko
Gov. Alex Otti, has assured Abia workers that his administration would not only implement but backdate and pay arrears of the new minimum wage once the committee set up by the Federal Government reached a compromise on it.
Otti who gave the assurance while addressing workers Wednesday during Workers’ Day celebration at the Township Stadium Umuahia, said his administration would continue to prioritize the welfare of workers in the state.
“We are still studying the announcement by the Federal Government on this. We shall take the lead in its implementation. We shall not only implement but backdate and pay the arrears once it’s agreed upon”, Otti assured.
Gov. Otti who described workers as agents of development and transformation, thanked Abia workers for their sacrifices as his “Government strives to rebuild the state from the ruins of the past”.
Otti said that his recent decision to defray the backlog of pension arrears owed retirees by his predecessors, was a demonstration of his regard for workers.
He declared that never again would the welfare of Abia workers be “an afterthought”, saying that he had made it a priority to pay workers’ salary every month before political appointees.
” It’s irresponsible to owe workers”, Otti added, while urging labour leaders to always speak out when they are denied of their entitlements.
” Not too long ago, we cleared the arrears of pension accumulated since 2014 according to the template we agreed upon with the leadership of NUP.
” During the campaign, the Labour leadership refused to speak out on whether or not they were owed. You should not keep quiet about your welfare.”
On the payment of wage award, Gov. Otti promised to look into it and take action very soon, a promise, that however did not seem to have gone down well with the workers as they demanded a concrete assurance from the Governor.
Earlier in his address, the Abia state Chairman of NLC, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, pleaded with the Governor to give approval for the payment of the N35,000 wage award announced last year by the federal government.
This, according to him, will help mitigate the plights of Abia workers in the face of the biting economic hardship in the country occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
The NLC boss who commended the Governor for defraying pension arrears, also appealed to him to wade in and clear the outstanding salary arrears of some parastatals and agencies in the state.
He enumerated the affected parastatals to include: Abia State University Teaching Hospital ABSUTH Aba, owed 21 months; Health Management Board, 15 months; staff of Abia Polytechnic, 33 months; and ABSU staff, 11 months.
Others are: Abia Line Network workers owed for 33 months; ABSEDA, 16 months; and Council workers owed two months, all by past administrations.
The NLC boss further reminded the Governor that gratuities were last paid in the state, 22 years ago, and pleaded with him to intervene.
The intervention, he said would “give hope to hopelessness in the workforce”.
Labour also appealed to the Governor to initiate steps towards reviving the moribund Golden Guinea Breweries Umuahia, to save redundant workers of the company hardship occasioned by inactivity of the Breweries.
NLC further sought the intervention of the Governor for the resumption of academic activities at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU, which was shut down since February following student protest.
According to NLC, the intervention of the Governor has become imperative as the closure of academic activities in the institution, (though a federal university), is beginning to take a toll on both students and their sponsors.
The NLC Chairman, applauded the developmental strides of the Governor and urged him to sustain the tempo.
” Sir, this is unprecedented, ‘ABA’ the Enyimba city of God’s own State, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State is positively wearing a new look.
” Dilapidated structures in our various Local Government Councils are being renovated. reconstruction. One can now confidently call Umuahia the State capital of Abia State. We crave your indulgence to keep the flag of your developmental strides flying, as the NEWABIA ‘we have been dreaming for is being witnessed courtesy of your administration”.
Wawa News Global reports that workers from various trade unions massively participated in the celebration even as pensioners also took part in the march past to demonstrate their joy over the defrayal of their pension arrears.
Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria. 
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