The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has threatened to sack workers who participated in compliance with the directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warning strike over alleged failure of the state government to implement the new minimum wage.
He said that any worker who fails to resume work on Tuesday will be replaced within 72 hours.
Governor Nwifuru made this known while addressing journalists in his office at the New Government House, Ochudo Centenary City in Abakaliki, the state capital.
He emphasised that there’s no reason for workers in the state to embark on any strike, noting that his administration committed to workers’ welfare. He stated that the state government have started implementing the new minimum wage as enshrined in the Act of the National Assembly.
“Ebonyi state government is not owing any worker in the state, both pension, gratuity and salary and we are paying the minimum wage as enshrined in the Act of the National Assembly.
“Ebonyi workers are enjoying their promotion accordingly. My worry is why should our state join in a strike action when there is no reason for it”.
According to Governor Nwifuru, the state government will not hesitate to replace striking workers, as he has directed all the relevant government officials to ensure they take attendance of those who reported to work and those who didn’t starting from today.
“If any government staff didn’t go to work within the next 72 hours, not just that I won’t pay you, but I will go ahead to replace the staff. If I didn’t see you in the office, as far as am not guilty and am not owing you, I am paying you what you are supposed to be paid and according to our agreement and you refuses to go to work, within 72 hours, I will replace you.
“I have informed the Chairman of the Civil Service commission, I have directed all the commissioners, all the agencies and departments of government to be in their different offices and ensure they take records of the staff that comes to work and those are the people that will be paid through table payment.
“The staff will be paid by the number of days that they came to work. If any staff decides not to come to work, let the person forget about Ebonyi State Government”.
The Governor also expressed regrets over the purported letter written to him by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) which was posted on social media platforms, adding that he was yet to receive the letter before it went viral.
He insisted that he will not negotiate with the NLC chairman in the state as he is not a staff of the state government.
“Ebonyi State will not fold it’s hands and watch someone’s personal interest override the state interest. I advised the NLC Chairman in the state to invite the whole workers of the state to come to the stadium and discuss the minimum wage issue to know if we were wrong or if the labour union are the people that are wrong.
“I met with the NLC Chairman alongside others 3 days ago and we discussed this issue. He insisted that the committee was supposed to sign agreement with me but I said no, that the minimum wage is an Act of the National Assembly which doesn’t require me to start signing any other agreement with the NLC and Committee in the state.
Nwifuru maintained that the state government implemented the minimum wage in line with the provisions of the law, adding that the letter of the NLC fails to address the discrepancies as alleged in their letter.
He warned members of the labour union against taking their personal interest as the general interest of the workers in the state, adding that, by doing that, they will be breeding what they cannot take.