Enugu Workers Protest Non-Payment Of Minimum Wage With Black Attires

On Sunday, workers in Enugu State Government parastatal agencies dressed in complete black for Workers’ Day.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the workers marched with placards reading “Black May Day for Parastatals in Enugu, Nonpayment of New Minimum Wage, Long Denials of Retirement Benefits” in protest of not being paid the N30,000 minimum wage.

The state government began implementing higher pay in February 2020.

However, only employees in core ministries are paid, leaving out employees in government organizations and departments, local government employees, and public school instructors.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Enugu State Council, urged the government to expedite action in the full implementation of the N30,000 wage.

The Chairman, Mr. Virginus Nwobodo,t said it was sad that the government had not yielded to all entreaties to make workers in other sectors enjoy the new wage.

Nwobodo appealed to the state to expedite action to that effect.

The NLC chairman also appealed to the state government to harmonize the monthly pension, adding that what many of the pensioners received at the end of each month was ridiculous.

Also, the Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Enugu State Council, Mr. Bennett Asogwa, urged the government to resume the monthly release of N100 million for the gradual payment of accumulated gratuities.

Asogwa listed other demands as the review of the wrongful scheduling of some civil servants for untimely retirement and speedy completion of the 9th Mile Water Crash Programme.

Others are the release of the outstanding arrears of promotion, repositioning the health sector through the full implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure, and others.

Responding, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, said the state government had started the process of addressing the issues raised for harmonious industrial relations.

Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, urged workers to continue to show solidarity with the government.

“Government has shown commitment to the welfare of workers and we have kept fate with our determination to ensure that workers in the state enjoy like their counterparts all over the federation.

“We are in solidarity with you and will continue to ensure that organized labour and government are on the same page,” Ugwuanyi said.