It was a day of requests for Anambra state civil servants during the last workers day celebration in Awka as OKECHUKWU ONUEBU reports.
It seems all is not well with Anambra state civil servants even though they are not contemplating industrial action in the next two years.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) at the workers day celebration tabled some demands before Gov Chukwuma Soludo.
The event which was the second to be celebrated by Gov Soludo also recorded a surprise as the governor told the workers to forget the usual match-past after speech presentations.demands
The catalogue of demands
The state chairman of NLC, Comrade Humphrey Emeka Nwafor tabled about 20 demands while reiterating that workers’ rights are both legal and human rights.
At first, they acknowledged road and Infrastructure development, security, recruitment of health workers, 5000 teachers, and 10% increase in workers salaries by the state government.
They were however worried over the state government’s inability to fully implement the minimum wage of N30,000 and its consequential adjustment. They therefore implored the governor to honour the agreement reached on January 24 2020.
For contributory pension scheme, they observed that since 2014 when it began in the state, monies deducted from workers’ salaries were not remitted regularly to the appropriate quarters.
“The non-adherence to the pension scheme laws has made the organised labour to take a stand that the scheme be scrapped and monies deducted be refunded. We remind you, Mr governor sir, that this decision is yet to see the light of the day. Congress therefore requests for our dear governor’s pronouncement stopping further deductions from workers’ salaries in the name of pension scheme,” he said.
The congress used the day to appeal for increase in the fund meant for the settlement of pensioners’ gratuity to help them take care of their old age and families.
“It is painful to report that some of these retirees are dying of hunger. Most times, they find it difficult to take care of their families and dependents. Congress requests for the review of deductions made from workers’ salaries between March 2021 and May 2021 for the recapitalisation of Ndiolu Microfinance Bank so as to ascertain how much was deducted/generated, how much was expended and balance after the recapitalisation. Workers deserve to know the details of the money they contributed,” he stated.
They requested for recruitment of staff in the various ministries and parastatals, including Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and Post Primary School Service Commission (PPSSC).
“It is no longer news that our primary and secondary schools that used to have at least two watchmen per school for day and night duties and drivers that used to drive school buses can no longer be found in the system and the effect is that the lives of our pupils and students are in danger, especially in the face of present day insecurity in the country. Employing watchmen would help in securing the lives of our pupils/students as well as government property.”
Workers also advocated for training and retraining through workshops, seminars to enable workers improve on their skills; procurement of buses for workers and maintenance of existing ones and to look into the low cost housing estate project meant for workers at Isiagu (Awka South LGA) with a view to meeting up with the necessary infrastructure needed for the Federal Mortgage Bank to approve and release the required loan with which the developer can continue with the project.
“Congress earnestly appeals that 2021 and 2022 promotion be approved and conducted so as to bring to an end the old method of promotion arrears in the state, just like gratuity and pension.
The congress appealed for declaration by fiat of thirty thousand naira (N30,000) as minimum pension in the state, lamenting that many pensioners were receiving as low as three hundred and thirty three naira, forty-five kobo (N333.45) as their monthly pension.
They demanded for the payment of arrears of 11 months pension owed some primary school pensioners from 2002 to 2003, amounting to N490,184,626.58 which they said was approved for payment since 2014 and the approval is in the custody of Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) waiting to be disbursed to the beneficiaries.
They asked for recruitment of non-teaching staff in various state educational institutions, especially Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and Post Primary School Commission (PPSC) to fill the vacancy created by mass retirement and for 17½ percent peculiarity allowance to be approved for non-teaching staff of ASUBEB and PPSSC, along-side with Teachers Enhancement Allowance (TEA) for teachers since 2009.
“Congress appeals for the Integration of Kenneth Dike E-Library Board staff into the central payment system of the state to avert the persistence delay in the payment of salaries and leave allowances of the staff of the board. It is long expected and we vehemently appeal that this matter be put to rest. Congress earnestly appeals to Mr governor to look into the condition of service of all the staff of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) with regards to their retirement benefits and pension.
“The running cost in the school system has been drastically been eaten up by inflation; therefore there is need for increased to meet up with the current day’s demands. Congress appeal for renovation and fencing of some important schools especially in the remote areas.
“Congress requests for recruitment of new staff in the local government system. It is worthy of note that the last recruitment exercise was in 2004, making it 19 years of no employment in the system. It is clear that in the next 16 years from now, there will be no staff in local government system in Anambra state because all the workers would have retired. We appeal for the consolidation of salaries of heads of local government administrators to be at per with their state counterparts.
The congress appealed for government to approve in-service training of nurses to meet up with the current health needs of the citizens, recruit at least 1000 nurses with various specialties for effective and efficient healthcare of indigenes and residents in the state.
They also requested for recognition and integration of the Anambra state chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in management of various motor parks in the state since they are not only experienced on the job but a registered trade union, recognised by law and empowered to unionise members while managing motor parks.
“Congress requests for prompt promotion, conversion, conducive working environment and functional working materials for effective service delivery in the various ministries and to enhance productivity. Congress rejects the extension of service after retirement. It should not be encouraged so as to encourage the upcoming ones to put in their best to ensure that the organisational goal/objectives are achieved. We appeal to Mr governor to ensure that this request is upheld,” he hinted.
Gov Soludo’s reaction to NLC’s requests
Reacting, Gov Soludo reaffirmed his commitment to the welfare of workers.
“In summary, our government remains focused. We are determined to deliver our agenda and all of you are critical partners. It requires reciprocity. You give value to the state and the state in turn gives value to you. I know that many of you are working very hard. We can’t be working seventy percent and expect to be paid a hundred and ten percent. It is not the new Anambra we intend to bequeath to the next generation,” Soludo noted.
“Did you talk to me about pensioners and their gratuity? You didn’t talk to me when we started making payments to them. When I came I heard that people were retiring without gratuity and are being owed gratuity for four years. All those who retired from 2018 till we assumed office last year were not paid their gratuity. I saw it and thought that was unacceptable. But despite the dwindling revenue and lean treasury, we started to tackle it. So far, we have been committed to it that anybody who has retired under my watch has been paid their gratuity and we have gone back to 2018. Every month, we put in something, clearing it gradually and systematically.
“Monday sit-at-home has become an excuse for workers to stop coming to work on Mondays. This cannot continue. You cannot be working for just four days a week and earn full salaries. We must get back to working on Mondays. If we do not go to work, we must not get our full salary. We must be paid proportionally with the number of days we work. If we must continue staying away from work on Mondays, then we will start coming to work on Saturdays. You must do your work and we cannot be working for 70 per cent and earn 110 per cent. We will cut your salaries when you fail to come work on Monday,” Soludo declared.
