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By Madu Obi
The absence of Governor Chukwuma Soludo at this year's May Day celebration in Anambra State dashed the hope of the workers who expected pronouncement on the new minimum wage and other welfare packages for them.
Some of the workers raised their voices, complaining openly when it became obvious that the governor was not going to attend the ceremony, with some of the labour unions refusing to participate in the ceremonial march past.
The governor was represented by his deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim at the ceremony which took place at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka and he had a tough time calming the workers down with the assurance that Governor Soludo loves them and would do everything possible to improve their welfare.
In fact, when the Deputy Governor told the workers that the governor loves them, they asked him to monetize the love to enable them solve the numerous problems facing them.
The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Humphrey Nwator had, in his address, listed some of the problems facing the workers, including the problematic contributory pensions scheme, absence of the Civil Service Commission which had been responsible for non employment of workers, and the stoppage of the N12,000 monthly wage award which lasted only from September to December 2023.
Ibezim, however, assured the workers that Governor Soludo would look into the problems facing workers in the state, in addition to providing good governance for the generality of the people.
He informed the audience that workers of the defunct State Water Corporation and Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency, ANSEPA, who were owed for the past 17 years, have started receiving their entitlements, just as the state government had brought back pipe borne water that has been absent since 1991 in many parts of the state, including Awka and Onitsha.
According to him, the state government delivers an average of 10 kilometres of road every month, adding that the entire Anambra State has been turned into a construction zone.
He also observed that security situation in the state has greatly improved, unlike what the situation was the present administration came into office in March, 2022.
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