From: Emmanuel Uzor, Abakaliki
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Ebonyi State chapter, on Tuesday, split into two following the ongoing disagreement over alleged deduction from workers’ salaries by the state government as part of the Contributory Pension Law.
Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the Chairman and leader of Junior Workers’ Association, Ebonyi State chapter, Uguru Uchenna, said the association has dissociated itself from the NUL leadership which they accused of pursuing personal interest as against the overall interests of the union.
Uguru, while reading a communiqué issued at the end of their emergency meeting noted that Ebonyi workers have never been properly taken care of like today under Governor David Umahi, adding that the Contributory Pension law which the state government recently put in place was for the welfare of the workers.
“We are in full support of the agricultural programme of the state government and are happy to participate in the programme taking advantage of soft loan provided by the state governor to embark on rice cultivation and other agricultural programmes.
“We are delighted and grateful to the governor for the increment of 5 percent in workers’ salary and pledge our unalloyed support to the effort of the state governor to strengthen the pensions of workers of Ebonyi State.”
Uguru further accused the leadership of NLC of playing politics with the welfare of workers in the state, adding “we completely dissociate ourselves from the desperation of some so called Labour leaders in the state parading their own personal agenda, a development that can cause breach of peace in the state.”
He said it was grossly uncharitable to claim that workers of Ebonyi State are enslaved whereas, they are among the few that get their monthly salaries on or before 18th of each month and without arrears.
“That we invite workers to ignore the desperate moves by some misinformed Labour leaders in the state to create an atmosphere of chaos and bad image to the dignity of labour unionism in the state and affirm our total support to Governor Umahi and call on all workers in the state to remain calm because the state government meant well”
Meanwhile, all efforts to get the reaction of the state chairman of the NLC, Ikechukwu Nwafor, proved abortive as his mobile phone was switched off as at the time of filling this report.