Enugu state workers ,Monday, held the 2024 Resumption of year prayer and committed the year’s activities into the hands of God, assuring dedication to duties and productivity inorder to actualise the State Government’s Internally Generated Revenue’s target of $30billion.
Pix: SSG, Prof Onyia
The workers who spoke through their leaders, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo ,State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and his Trade Union Congress(TUC) counterpart, Comrade Ben Asogwa, gave the assurance in their separate speeches at the event held at the State Secretariat , Enugu.
Pix- Comrade Asogwa(L) Comrade Nwigbo(R)
The TUC chairman thanked the State Government for the cordial relationship that existed between the Government and the workers. He also thanked Governor , Mbah for the award of N25,000 he gave to state workers and N10,000 to Local Government workers respectively, in December, 2023 , which will be paid till April,2024, when the new minimum wage will be paid .
He appealed to the Governor to increase the pension paid to retirees. Comrade Asogwa also appealed to the state Government to increase workers’ salaries and pay outstanding leave allowances.
He assured the state Government of workers’ commitment to improve services and be more productive . The TUC chairman was optimistic that if workers do their best, it will increase productivity . “Workers are prepared to do their best . This year 2024 is a year of new minimum wage in Nigeria. So, we urge workers to do their best to see if it could be achieved”, Asogwa said .
He cautioned against corruption, budget padding and any act that could affect productivity.
On his part, the NLC State Chairman, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, applauded Enugu state workers for their dedication to duties. He said,” workers in Enugu state are good and the State Governor has promised that as soon as he is dropping the N25,000 award, he is picking the new minimum wage ” .
The NLC chairman disclosed that
labour leaders were working hard to bring parastatals into the main stream of the civil service so that the issue of disparity will not be there again .
Oix-SSG,Prof Onyia
In his speech, the state Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, said God has been merciful to Enugu state and they had come to hand Enugu state back to God. “Everyday we come here to work, we must pray. We pray for protection, pray for promotion ,pray for growth of Enugu state “.
He said they had taken measures to improve the productivity of workers .
“We partner Labour leaders so they will become part of the optimizarion. We have been engaging Labour leaders and were able to achieve what we had been able to achieve,” Governor Mbah said .
SSG( m), Head of Service, Ugwu(R)
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, Governor Mbah said they had plan for Workers’ welfare. He noted that the 2024 budget of N502 billion was unprecedented. ” It is not only for infrastructure but also for workers’.
The Governor said they were aware of the hardship people were passing through and will do all it could to improve the welfare of the workers. “We are all in Nigeria. We understand what it means . We want to increase revenues for Enugu workers to be among the best in Nigeria, N252 billion is our target. It means every month , every ministry must generate N25 billion”. In Enugu state we are tired of unproductivity. As you hold us accountable, allow us
to be accountable. We have a target to meet We need to work together as a group.,”Gov Mbah said
He added that security has improved and Enugu state is safe for business.
The Governor recalled that on assumption of office, he promised to give Enugu people , water in 180days and it was achieved. He explained that over 60 cubic litres of water were generated daily and soon people will have water running in their homes, after old pipes must have been replaced with the new ones.
Pix- Bishop Mmadu
Earlier in his sermon taken from Isaiah 40:31, the Cleric, Bishop Godwin Mmadu, spoke on the Theme, “waiting upon the Lord”.
He said,” Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength”. Bishop Mmadu urged workers to be patient and expectant ,adding that ,”a man that waits is a man of patience, a man prepared for instruction and is expectant for the next line of action”.
He advised, “remember, don’t leave God as you wait, drop unnecessary fight and disruptive criticism. Let ‘s form a synergy and drive Enugu state forward” .
Prayers were offered for Nigeria, Enugu state, the Governor, Political appointees, workers among other intentions .
Pix- Workers singing and dancing praises.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama