There is a total economic lockdown of Ebonyi State as private sector unions have directed their members to shut activities in the state in compliance with the directive by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to join the strike against the threat by the state government to sack the striking civil servants over non-implementation of the new national minimum wage of N70, 000.
Recall that the governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Francis Nwifuru, had yesterday threatened to replace the civil servants within 72 hours should they refuse to return to work.
In a live broadcast in Abakaliki, the governor frowned on the strike by the workers saying he had done enough for them to appreciate but to no avail.
“If you don’t go to work, not only that I will not pay you salary, I will replace you within 72 hours.
“As far as I am not guilty, I do not owe you. I am paying you what is supposed to be paid and according to the agreement and constitution, I do not owe you. If you don’t go to work within 72 hours, I will replace you.
“I have called the chairman, civil service commission. I have directed all the commissioners to go to their offices. All the agencies and all the departments of government must be in their offices and record the people that come to work.
“I will pay through table payment, by the number of days you attend to your duty in your office. If you don’t want to come to work, forget about the state government,” he said angrily.
Reacting to the threat, the national leadership of the NLC through its president, Mr Joe Ajaero, directed private sector unions to join the striking public workers.
Consequently, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) asked their members in the state to join the strike.
NUPENG through the general secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale, to the union’s coordinator in Ebonyi, informed all its members and branches in all oil and gas installations, operations, and services, including the distribution and marketing of petroleum products in Ebonyi State that the union “is fully committed to ensuring total compliance with the directive of the NLC issued on Friday, 8th November 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“The directive calls for an indefinite strike in any State that fails to implement the N70, 000.00 national minimum wage, commencing from Monday, 2nd December 2024.
“As a Union, we are deeply concerned and disturbed by the insensitive and unresponsive attitude of the Ebonyi State Government towards the critical issue of a new minimum wage for state government workers, especially in light of the various socio-economic policies of this administration that have impoverished the working people of this country.
“Leaders of our union at all levels, from the units and branches in Ebonyi State, should immediately put all necessary processes in place to ensure total compliance with this directive.”
For its part, NUEE in a circular by its acting general secretary, Mr Dominic Igwebike, said: “With reference to the circular from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) dated 29th November, 2024 on the outcome of the meeting of national executive council (NEC) and Central working committee (CWC), and in compliance with the decision of the leadership of the Congress, the national leadership of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) hereby directs the following States: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory, Imo, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara to embark on an industrial action to compel the implementation of the new minimum wage as resolved by NEC and CWC of the Congress starting Monday 2nd December 2024.
“All the affected states and chapter executives are requested to start the mobilisation of our members in total compliance with this directive to ensure the respective state governments do the right thing as stated above.”
