Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru on Monday has issued an ultimatum to striking workers in the state.
He gave them 72 hours ultimatum to resume work or face dismissal.
Nwifuru’s action followed a seven days warning strike embarked on by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Ebonyi State wing.
The governor also threatened to replace them after their dismissal from duty.
Addressing Reporters on Monday in his office at the new Government House, Centenary City, Abakaliki, Nwifuru said the state government is not owing any worker.
He stated that the state government has approved N75,000 as minimum wage and has already started paying.
The NLC, Ebonyi State, had on Sunday commenced a seven days warning strike over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage in the state.
However, reacting to the strike, Nwifuru said, “If you didn’t go to work, not only that I will not pay you salary, but I will replace you within 72 hours in your office.
“If I don’t see you in your office, consider yourself sacked. So far I am not guilty, I am not owing you.
“I am paying you what is supposed to be paid. And according to the agreement and the Constitution, I am not owing you. If you don’t go to work within 72 hours I will replace you.
“And I have called the state chairman of the Civil Service Commission.I have directed all the commissioners to go to their offices. All the agencies, all the departments of government must be in their office and record the people that come to work. And that is the people I will pay through table payment.
“I will pay you by the number of days you attended to your duty in your office. If you don’t want to come to work, you will forget about the state government.
NLC Reacts
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has described the threat by the Ebonyi State Government to sack striking workers as “irresponsible and unhelpful.”
Ajaero, in a communique obtained by DAILY GIST on Monday night, said Governor Francis Nwifuru’s refusal to implement the new N70,000 minimum wage was a display of impunity toward workers in the state.
Responding to the governor’s threats, Ajaero said the state government had refused to dialogue with labour leaders in the state while emphasizing that Nwifuru is not “God.”
“We are dismayed by the statement credited to the Ebonyi State Governor, Mr Nwifuru, that except the striking workers in the state over non-payment of the National Minimum Wage resume work immediately, they should consider themselves sacked.
“We recall that the strike action was preceded by failed conversations and notices to the Governor on the need to implement the 2024 national minimum wage since it was signed into law several months ago.
“The law has provisions for enforcement by workers. Besides this, strike action is a lawful/legitimate tool in the hands of aggrieved workers. In light of this, we consider the threats by the governor as irresponsible and unhelpful.
“What a reasonable governor acting reasonably ought to have done was to invite the labour leaders in the state for dialogue for a speedy resolution of the facts in issue, but he thinks he is God.
“The world must know that Nwifuru is the first to draw ‘blood in a matter of which he is completely guilty of,” Ajaero declared, adding that the industrial action would not be called off based on a sack threat to workers.
He revealed that the National Secretariat of the Congress has directed all the affiliates, including those in the private sector, to immediately join in the strike action.
He added, “Similarly, we urge the workers already on strike to not yield to the threats of the governor but sustain the momentum until the governor sees the need to not only behave properly but pay the minimum wage in compliance with the law.”
He further noted that the right of response is available in pursuance of a just cause, and workers in the state would be communicated on the next approach to the strike action.
