The organised labour in Anambra State on Monday announced the commencement of a one-week warning strike to press home their demand for the implementation of a new wage structure. The decision came moments after the state governor, Peter Obi, had addressed the workers at their rally held at Ekwueme Square Awka and promised to pay the new minimum wage once other states start paying.
But his assurances seem not to have impressed the leadership of the workers, who went ahead after he left to declare a one week warning strike, the first in the entire Southeast.
However, the declaration of the strike has been enmeshed in allegations that it was induced by opposition politicians. The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra State, led by its chairman, Pat Obianyo, were accused of meeting secretly with a former governor of the state the previous evening at a hotel in Awka.
Mr Obi, who was advised not to attend the rally on the reason that the environment was ‘charged', insisted he would go to hear first hand from the workers. Addressing them, he said since the minimum wage has been passed as law, his government would obey the law by paying the workers with the new pay package, including paying the arrears.
He, however, said that would only happen when other states have commenced paying.
Earlier, before he came, the workers, probably suspicious of the integrity of some of their leaders, based on allegations of a sellout, placed them on oath and wanted an assurance that they would not betray them as far as the minimum wage was concerned.
But moments after Mr Obi left, a one week warning strike was declared by Mr Obianyo, who expressed dissatisfaction with what the state government offered during negotiations. He said the chart brought by government was unacceptable.
Mr Obianyo, when asked to respond to allegations of inducement by politicians to him to declare the strike, described such allegations as a most mischievous act and denied ever meeting secretly with any politician, particularly the said former governor.
"The allegation is most mischievous; I've never come in contact with him (former governor)," he said. "In fact, I was the one who wrote against him and demanded for N5m compensation for defaming my character. No human being can force me to do what I don't want to do. Today's (yesterday's) rally was a joint meeting of TUC, NLC and the Joint Negotiating Council. The decision to embark on the strike was a collective decision of the rally." Asked why Anambra labour was the first in the Southeast to declare a strike, he retorted: "Why must we look at other states? Which state do we expect to pay first?" Mr Obianyo said the warning strike is aimed at making the state government to have a rethink and do the right thing. "If they call us, we are always available, even if it is by 12 midnight, provided we have security." He said.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayBut his assurances seem not to have impressed the leadership of the workers, who went ahead after he left to declare a one week warning strike, the first in the entire Southeast.
However, the declaration of the strike has been enmeshed in allegations that it was induced by opposition politicians. The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra State, led by its chairman, Pat Obianyo, were accused of meeting secretly with a former governor of the state the previous evening at a hotel in Awka.
Mr Obi, who was advised not to attend the rally on the reason that the environment was ‘charged', insisted he would go to hear first hand from the workers. Addressing them, he said since the minimum wage has been passed as law, his government would obey the law by paying the workers with the new pay package, including paying the arrears.
He, however, said that would only happen when other states have commenced paying.
Earlier, before he came, the workers, probably suspicious of the integrity of some of their leaders, based on allegations of a sellout, placed them on oath and wanted an assurance that they would not betray them as far as the minimum wage was concerned.
But moments after Mr Obi left, a one week warning strike was declared by Mr Obianyo, who expressed dissatisfaction with what the state government offered during negotiations. He said the chart brought by government was unacceptable.
Mr Obianyo, when asked to respond to allegations of inducement by politicians to him to declare the strike, described such allegations as a most mischievous act and denied ever meeting secretly with any politician, particularly the said former governor.
"The allegation is most mischievous; I've never come in contact with him (former governor)," he said. "In fact, I was the one who wrote against him and demanded for N5m compensation for defaming my character. No human being can force me to do what I don't want to do. Today's (yesterday's) rally was a joint meeting of TUC, NLC and the Joint Negotiating Council. The decision to embark on the strike was a collective decision of the rally." Asked why Anambra labour was the first in the Southeast to declare a strike, he retorted: "Why must we look at other states? Which state do we expect to pay first?" Mr Obianyo said the warning strike is aimed at making the state government to have a rethink and do the right thing. "If they call us, we are always available, even if it is by 12 midnight, provided we have security." He said.
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