Governor of Enugu state, Dr. Peter Mbah has approved the promotion and conversion of over 2000 workers who were successful in the 2024 promotion examination and interviews, reiterating his commitment to workers’ welfare, just as Enugu workforce laud his administration’s developmental strides..
He disclosed that in his address during the “2025 Workers Day Celebration” held on Thursday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium, Enugu with the theme, “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship.”
Represented by his Chief of Staff, , Victor Udeh, Governor Mbah said he had always demonstrated commitment to the improvement of workers’ welfare.
Highlighting some of his administration ‘s welfare packages for the state workers, he said:
“I paid palliative even after the Federal Government and other states had stopped and payment of N80,000 minimum wage to workers in the state including Local Government workers.I approved payment of gratuity upon retirement from the state public service, provision of Compressed Natural Gas buses for the benefits of Enugu State workers and other residents.
“We also restored power supply at the State Secretariat complex and introduction of Governance in the state bureaucracy,” Mbah said.
The Governor who spoke on his administration’s plan to grow the economy of Enugu state from 4.4Billion Dollars to 30 Billion Dollars, said his administration could not considerately do that without a dedicated workforce
His words: “So, our development and glorious future that we envisioned required a collective work.
“On our part, we will continue to motivate our workers because a motivated workforce is a productive workforce
Pix: Workers on match past
“For us, however, everyday is Workers’ Day because we strongly believe that our greatest asset lies in human resources. It’s a very auspucious moment to thank Enugu State workers, the leadership of the various unions for their toil and sacrifice.
“Labour creates wealth; there can never be any doubt about that. The best way to acknowledge that labour creates wealth is by ensuring our workforce, which creates the wealth that oils the wheel of government, is sufficiently motivated,.
“When our Smart Green Schools fully open this September, they will represent a significant economic relief for workers whose children and wards will be enrolled in the schools sited in all the 260 wards in the state.
“We have recorded significant milestones in the area of security, ending the illegal sit-at-home order by non-state actors, provision of security in all nooks and crannies of the state, payment of palliatives even after the federal government had stopped, payment of N80,000 minimum wage across the state down to the local government levels; and payment of gratuity upon retirement from state public service”, he said.
Governor Mbah commended the workers for their resilience and charged them to continue to be dedicated He promised to address some of the problems in the state verification process, adding that the verification exercise was to ensure efficiency in the system and also rid the state of corrupt practices.
In his address , the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Enugu Chapter, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, commended Governor Mbah for his good works in the state.
“Your exponential capacity in transforming Enugu state has distinguished you among other governors in Nigeria. You have established a leadership model that has set unequalled benchmark for the assessment of good governance in Nigeria,” he said
Nwigbo however said the minimum wage received by workers in Enugu did not contain consequential adjustment.
“We are so happy that Mbah gave Enugu workers minimum wage above national minimum wage but a minimum wage without a consequential adjustment is not complete.
“So, we are pleading with him to consider and direct that a consequential adjustment be part of minimum wage we receive.
“We are praying that he uses his good heart to consider our plight and direct that a consequential adjustment be paid to workers of Enugu State,” Nwigbo said.
The NLC chairman spoke about pensioners’ welfare, saying that the state government to initiate payment of gratuity arrears of all retirees comprising State, Local Government, Primary School, Parastatals and others that after the pensioners’ verification exercise.
“We are also urging him to direct the payment of pension arrears to retirees of State parastatals, primary schools, and local governments.
“We are also appealing to him to approve the payment of domestic servant allowances for Deputy Directors and Directors using the N80,000 minimum wage, rather than the outdated N30,000,
“To reconsider and approve the commencement of annual leave allowance payments to workers as well as construction of low-cost housing for workers, given the housing deficit and high cost of rent in our State,” he said.
Speaking on the theme of the 2025 event, Nwigbo expressed the need for workers to always speak out, protest against unfair treatment, engage employers of labour whenever the need arises, demand accountability, and defend their rights.
“As workers grapple with untold hardship occasioned by increasing costs of living, stagnant wages, and unemployment, today’s theme emerges both as a call to action and a rallying point for advocacy and change,” he said.
He also urged Governor Mbah to Prioritise the training and retraining of workers to enhance productivity and approve the completion of the new Secretariat for NLC and TUC in line with his policy of completing abandoned projects.
Similarly, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) Enugu Chapter, Comrade Benneth Asogwa, commended Governor Mbah for his developmental strides in the state. His words:
“Your Excellency, the workers are very grateful for your resolve to redefine governance in our state by proactively taking steps aimed at placing Enugu in the frontline of reforms that cut across all sectors and trickle down to the grassroots”.
On workers’ welfare, he commended the governor for the new minimum wage of N80,000. He however spoke on consequential adjustment, describing it as an ingredient of the minimum wage, explaining that :
“If you did not approve consequential adjustment, it is like a good food without salt as it gives the minimum wage the structure it deserves and make it a true salary.
“A singular amount for everybody is more of wage award but we trust in His Excellency and believe that in due time he will direct for consequential adjustment, Asogwa said
Reassuring workers’ resolve to continue to support his administration, Asogwa said the state workers will ensure implementation of government policies and programmes aimed at taking Enugu State to an enviable heights.
Highlight of the event was match past by various workers union in the state workforce.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama