2019 May Day Celebration In Imo Marred With Low Turn Out, As Imo Workers Lament 3 Months Of Unpaid Salaries

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Dan Opara

 

Throughout Nigeria, the Civil Servants have jointly celebrated their day for the 133rd Anniversary of May Day Celebration under the platform of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, with Imo State workers included.

 

The May Day Celebration has been an annual ritual event that usually took place every 1st of May in the country and such Last Wednesday, May 1st, 2019 was a day when all the civil servants from across various unions in Imo State trooped out to celebrate their day, with the theme:”Another 100 years of struggle for jobs,dignity and social justice”.

 

But on Wednesday,May 1st 2019,at the Heroes Square New Owerri Area,the venue of the event was marred with low turn out workers due the alleged 3 months unpaid salaries to Imo State workers by the outgoing Governor,Rochas Okorocha,who was also obviously absent at the ceremony,but was ably represented by the Secretary to the Govt,Sir. Mark Uchendu.

 

In an address, the Imo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comr.Austin Chilakpu,expressed delight to welcome the great and resilient workers of the State,the retired but not tired pensioners,senior citizens,trade union activists and veterans of the Labour Movement,the  good allies in the civil society organizations,tradition rulers,religious leaders,leaders and stakeholders of the state project and fellow comrades.

 

The Imo NLC Chairman, Chilakpu, recalled the origin and importance of the May Day celebration, which he described as a very significant day. According to him, the event started at the global level with a demonstration of workers at the Hay Market Square in Chicago, the USA on May 1st, 1886. Workers involved at Chicago Square include Albert Parson,August Spies,George Engel,Adolph Fisher,Louis Linggi,Samuel Fielden and Micheal Schwab;whereas it was the Iva valley massacre of November 18th, 1949 in Enugu, SouthEast State of Nigeria, and amongst seven (7)  workers also involved from Imo State include Comr.Sunday from Obazu Mbieri Mbaitoli LGA, Comr. Livinus from Ohii in Owerri West, Comr.Moses from Umuohoho Amaimo Ikeduru, Comr.Simon from Ubaha Mbutu Aboh Mbaise, Comr.Nwahu from Amuzi Bende (Old Imo) and Comr.Thomas from Mbaha Okigwe, all from Imo State.

 

“These events are reminiscent of workers demonstrations for better working conditions and a better life for the large society”, NLC Imo Boss said.

 

“This year’s May Day is a year lamentation for Workers in Imo State, you see 3 months unpaid salaries” Chilakpu cried out.

 

Comr.Austin, said the Labour Movement have engaged in the struggle against job insecurity, arbitrary retrenchment of workers, casualization of work, indecent employment, trending privatization and concessioning of govt.enterprises and corporates, lack of job creation and policies that lead to the closure of factories, industries, and other private enterprise and other businesses. These issues do not encourage national development because they only result in insecurity and other negative tendencies that stunt development.

 

The NLC State Chairman, however, disclosed that both the Federal and State workers have continued to advocate for the restoration of labour dignity through the campaign and struggle against:non-payment of workers salaries,non-payment of pensioners,payment of non-living wage,indecent work environment,non-payment of entitled allowances and policies that tend to reduce the worker to mere domestic servants.

 

Comr.Chilakpu while speaking through his 9 pages address,frowned bitterly on the manner in which the outgoing Imo Govt.overlooked so many industrial issues that were not resolved such as the non-payment of over 46 months salary arrears to workers of Adapalm,the call of over 200 illegal disengaged workers of the State,non-implementation of the automatic promotion of grant to workers,non-payment of deducted check-off dues to Industrial Unions,and the non-payment of gratuities to retired workers since 1999 to date.

 

He, therefore, appealed to Gov.Rochas Okorocha to the Federal Govt.approved new minimum wage salary scale of #30,000.

 

Responding, the Imo State Governor, who was ably represented by the Secretary to the Govt.of Imo State, Sir. Mark Uchendu, said the govt. under the Rescue Mission have the general interest of Imolites at heart, even as he disclosed that his administration is poised towards adhering to the regular payment of worker’s salaries.

 

He revealed that there are not less than 24,000 pensioners in Imo and that his govt.have continued to pay them through biometric data processing, which according to him is still ongoing.

 

He said, “there was no record of pensioners when we came into power”.

 

On the issues of salaries, “remember we did not win elections”, but we shall endeavor to pay all unpaid before we leave office, come May 29th, 2019″.

 

“There would be the promotion of workers, your month of May salary will be N30,000 as the Salary Implementation Committee has been set up within 7 days for the new salary structure has been approved”, says Okorocha.

 

The Governor, therefore, thanked the Labour Union, Trade Union Congress and all the Workers in the state for giving him the 8 years support as Imo Governor.

 

Workers union who participated during the match pass during the ceremony includes: members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, the members of Radio Television Theater and Workers Union, RATTAWU, Imo State Chapter, ably represented by the State Chairman, Hon.Comr.Austin Onwuegbuchulem,who is also the Chairman of Arts Workers Union in state,other members of the labour union members in attendance were the members of the National Union of Food,Drinks and Beverages,Union of Nurses and Midwifery,Nigerian Union of Teachers,NUT,and other members of various unions of workers in Imo State.

 

Meanwhile,the ceremony was obviously marred with a very low turn out of workers as civil servants in the decried non-payment of salaries by the governor,as such Gov.Okorocha very much absent,whereas the 2019 May Day Celebration in Imo to some people was described as been graced by jubilation in Imo State as the immediate past Chiefs of Staff to the outgoing Govt.Hon.Ugwumba Uche Nwosu donated brand new Camry car to the best Civil Servant in the state.

 

“I am very happy to be the winner of the 2019 Ugwumba’s car gift, though I don’t know how to drive, says Comr.Obinna Nwogu,from NgorOkpala Owerri zone”.

 

The Imo State Commissioner for Labour, Hon. Chief Blessing Nwammerenini, expressed gratitude for the 2019 May Day celebration.

 

He enjoined Imo Civil Servants to hands in the promotion of productivity in the state.

 

In a swift interview with the Imo State Chairman of the National Union of Foods Drinks and Beverages, Chief Comr.Livinus Nwulu, he commended all the workers for their unity in diversity.

 

He, therefore, extolled Gov.Okorocha for his implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage for Imo workers but expressed optimism that the oncoming govt.of the Imo Governor-Elect, Rt.Hon.Emeka Ihedioha would be very much better than the outgoing govt.

 

Adding his voice, the Imo State Chairman of RATTAWU, Comr.Austin Onwuegbuchulem, expressed satisfaction for the successful 2019 May Day Celebration in the state, even as he enjoined all the workers in the State to remain committed to building a formidable and strong Imo State.

 

Comr.Onwuegbuchulem, therefore, commended the governor, Rochas Okorocha for implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage for Imo Workers.

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