I Will Not Increase Workers Salaries - Anambra State Governor Reveals

The Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has told workers in the state that he will not increase their salaries soonest.

This was contained in his May Day address made available to our correspondent in Awka, Anambra state on Tuesday.

This was coming barely 24 hours after the leadership of the organised labour in the state had endorsed the governor for a second term for his commitment to workers’ welfare.

The workers also conferred on him, “The most labour friendly governor” in the state since 1999.

The governor had in his address told the workers “I won’t promise you what I cannot do”.

He reminded them that his administration had increased their salaries by 15 percent in 2015.

His address read in part, “I wish to restate my earlier promise that I will increase your salaries once I see a significant growth in my Internally Generated Revenue; once we are able to push it to N2.3bn per month. Now we have an average IGR of about N1.4 billion.

“So, all hands must be on deck to achieve this target and create new economic elbowroom for ourselves and our families.

“I must commend you for coping with the harsh challenges caused by the current recession. I salute your resilience in the midst of a contracting economy”.

The Nigeria Labour congress, Anambra State chapter, had in its May day address urged the governor to declare a state of emergency on workers’ salaries.

The NLC chairman in the state, Mr. Jerry Nnubia, who stated this, had described workers’ monthly take home in the state as a flash in the pan.

He said, “Our labour friendly Governor has also shown a lot of goodwill and favourable disposition towards the welfare of workers. Since the inception of his administration, salaries, pensions and leave allowances are regularly paid.

“In as much as we appreciate your kind disposition to workers’ welfare, it is still very clear that under the present harsh economic situation, the workers are passing through a lot of untold hardship, as what they receive as their salary does not scratch their basic needs on the surface.

“It is therefore our passionate appeal that a ‘state of emergency” be declared for the upward review of the salaries of the workers”.

He called for regular promotion of workers as well as payment of retirement benefits of extra ministerial departments in the state.

Punch