Politicians shun Abia workers on May Day, as low turnout mars celebration

• NLC knocks Ikpeazu over salary arrears

*Help has come – Otti

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Politicians of Abia extraction on Monday shunned the 2023 edition of International Workers Day celebration which was marred by low turnout of workers.

Politicians who usually throng the venue of such celebration in pre-election years and even lobby to be made the Chairman of the occasion were conspicuously missing at the Ibeku High School Umuahia, venue of the event, this year.

Those of them who cared, including the Governor –elect, Dr. Alex Otti and the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Prof. Greg Ibe, sent goodwill messages to the distraught workers of the state who used the opportunity of the celebration to slam outgoing Governor, Dr.6 Okezie Ikpeazu, for failing to pay them their salaries and allowances.

Otti, in his message to Abia workers said he has come to wipe away their tears and end their long suffering, saying “help has come.”

It was also gathered that the low turnout of workers for the global event may not be unconnected with arrears of two months salaries owed Core Civil Servants in the State.

Addressing the gathering, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abia State, Comrade Philip Nweke, decried the6 plights of serving workers in government employment, as well as pensioners.

According to the State NLC Council Chairman, the theme for the 2023 Workers Day celebration: “Workers’ Rights and Socio-Economic Justice,” is coming at a time when social injustice and denial of rights of the worker has become the order of the day in the work place.

The Council commended Ikpeazu for giving Command Promotion to Abia Workers, but added: “In the interim, we wish to call on government to effect immediate implementation of the promotion with April 2023 salary.”

He expressed sadness that government has paid the salaries of workers in the core Civil Service up to February 2023, “while unfortunately some MDAS and Local Government are in arrears of salary”

He listed those being owed by the State government to include: Pensioners – 42 months pension arrears and 21 years gratuity; Abia State Polytechnic, Aba – 43 months arrears; ABSUTH – 27 months; Hospital Management Board -16 months; Abia College of Education, Arochukwu – 32 months; Senior Secondary and Junior Secondary School Teachers -28 months, SEMB -18 months and ASUB – 7 months arrears, among others.

The Abia NLC noted that government was owing worker arrears of leave allowance from 2017 till date and request the government’ to settle all the arrears of leave allowance.

The Labour leader dedicated the 2023 May Day celebration to Workers and Pensioners in the State who have kept the dream alive amid some of the worst working conditions, adding “you have never failed to continue contributing to the building of a great Abia.”

Also, in his address, the State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Ihechi Enogwe, implored the state government to prioritise welfare of workers.

In his opening written address titled “Your Fate is in Your Hands,” the chairman of the occasion and a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, doffed his hat for the “Survivalists.”

“These are people owed several months of salaries, yet they are still standing, these are aged people who gave their best years to the state, yet they can’t get the paltry sum called pensions,” the Evule Ogu Ibeku said.

Governor Ikpeazu, represented by the State Head of Service, Sir Onyii Wamah, commended workers in the State for their steadfastness and diligence despite some unforeseen circumstances.

He announced the approval for the extension of retirement age for Teachers to 70 years and 40 years of Service.

Meanwhile, the Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti, has assured Abia workers that the era of non-payment of salaries has ended with his election.

Felicitating Abia workers on the occasion of the 2023 May Day celebration, through a statement he personally signed, he said he was aware that many of the workers were celebrating the Day on empty stomach because they were yet to be paid their salaries.

“I particularly salute our workers in the State and Local Government civil services, who, despite being owed many months of salary arrears, have ensured that the wheels of public service continue to spin. I’m aware, as usual, that most of you will be celebrating this year’s May Day on empty stomachs as a result of non-payment of salaries. Be assured that such sad experience will become a thing of the past going forward. I commend your resilience, long suffering and uncommon dedication to duty in the service of our dear State,” Otti said

“A year ago, I did the usual ritual of felicitation to you all, and I did reassure you that sooner than later, the ruinous era of gloom and sobriety would give way for a new dawn of blessings and abundance. Today, by the mercy of the Almighty God, our prayer, battle cry and admonition, ‘Weep No More, Help is on the Way’, has been answered and we can assuredly declare, help is here!” he added.

According to the Governor-elect, payment of salaries to workers and other clients of government keeps the economy running.

“I have always held the view that a worker that is neglected or poorly treated is a threat to economic prosperity of a state, and argued that one of the ways to stimulate a depressed economy is to pay salaries and allowances as well as pay contractors to inject funds into the economy, which will in turn lead to increased demand for goods and services, higher productivity and job creation.” He said further said.

Otti promised that he would not be deterred by the rot and the huge liabilities the Peoples Democratic Party-led administration would be leaving behind.

“We are not unmindful of the enormity of the rot ravaging every sector of our economy, vis-a-vis the humongous liabilities being left behind by the outgoing PDP government. However, we are undaunted because we came prepared and will therefore hit the ground running, despite the challenges,” he assured.

Wishing the workers well, the incoming Governor said: “As you celebrate this Special Edition of May Day, may the joy and heroism associated with being a worker gladden your hearts and inspire you all to continue to make sacrifices for a better Abia state. We will move speedily, vigorously and decisively in the task of rebuilding our state and in our efforts to create wealth, jobs, prosperity and opportunities for our people, at all levels.”

Also, the Abia State Governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Gregory Ibe, congratulated Abia workers on the celebration of the 2023 International Workers Day.

In a goodwill message released in Umuahia, Prof Ibe praised the Abia workforce for their consistency, dedication and commitment to the task of developing the state.

“I want to use the opportunity of the celebration of International Workers Day to specially commend the resilient Abia workforce for their legendary consistency, dedication and commitment to the daunting task of developing our state even in the face of many daunting challenges,” Prof. Ibe said.

He applauded the inventive and innovative disposition of organized labour in the state, which, according to him, “enable them to persevere and creatively deliver life-enhancing solutions even when compelled to operate within a politically tainted toxic work environment that reeks of partisanship.”

To the unorganized labour sector, the 2023 APGA guber candidate paid glowing tribute specially to “traders, artisans, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs who, through their ingenuity and industry, independently service and sustain the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state, thereby making Abia the SME capital of Nigeria.”

“Without any doubt, he continued, “these largely uncelebrated members of the Abia workforce are the true heroes and heroines of our categorization as the Japan of Africa.”

Recalling the role played by both organized and unorganized labour during the last election cycle in the state, Prof Ibe particularly hailed the patriotic disposition of the entire Abia workforce, noting that they encouraged the birth of renewed hope in the state.

“Worthy of mention is the patriotic role played by the entire Abia workforce during the recently concluded election, which resulted in the renewed hope that currently pervades our state. I therefore earnestly entreat for synergy and harmony between the governing institutions and our workforce in order to create the required peaceful environment that will in turn precipitate the delivery of the desired new Abia that we are collectively yearning to see.”