AN ADDRESS OF WELCOME PRESENTED BY CHAIRMAN OF NLC, ANAMBRA STATE COUNCIL, ON THE OCCASION OF THE WORKERS’ DAY CELEBRATION ON 1st MAY, 2023

PROTOCOLS:
It is with heart full of joy and sincere gratitude to God Almighty, that I, on behalf of the Nigeria Labour Congress and entire workforce of this State warmly welcome the number one citizen of the state, The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles. C. Soludo CFR, the Deputy Governor Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, the Chief Judge of Anambra State, All Commissioners on the entourage, the Head of service, all other political appointees and officials of the state present to celebrate with us.

We welcome the spiritual leaders and Reverends, Traditional Rulers, Labour Veterans, Senior Citizens, Civil Society allies, great workers of Anambra State, gentleman of the Press, Ladies and gentleman.
Please relax and enjoy yourselves with us as we celebrate the workers day.
Mr Governor, Comrades, invited guests, ladies and gentlemen. Traditionally, we usually develop a theme for each year’s workers’ day and this year’s theme is: “Workers’ Rights and Socio Economic Justice”.
Workers’ rights are both legal rights and human rights relating to labour relations between workers and employers.

These rights are codified in the National and International labour and employment laws in general. These influence working conditions in relations of employment, freedom of association and the effective recognition of the rights to collective bargaining, elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation as well as safe and healthy working environment. These rights are like oil that lubricates the relationship between labour and employer.
Mr. Governor has shown, right from the beginning of this administration, that he is a worker-friendly Governor. He has focused on his promises and has been assembling all those infrastructures that will help put the face of the state on the map of the modern world.

These include, among others, world class roads that are cropping up simultaneously in various communities, local governments and senatorial zones of the state; all capped with standard drainages.
Mr Governor, Congress is very much impressed with both the standard and the rate of work going on in the Government House permanent site.
Your achievements in the areas of security and peace cannot be over emphasized. Today, the people of the state can sleep with their two eyes closed. People can now move freely and function safely.

You have successfully recruited, posted and paid five thousand (5,000) primary and secondary school teachers; the highest ever, which was well-coordinated and executed. You also recruited some healthcare providers, all in a bid to fill the vacancies created by retirement and death. Thank you so much sir.
Congress remains eternally grateful to Mr. Governor for the 10% increase in the salaries of Anambra Workers and the Christmas bonus of fifteen thousand naira (N15,000) to the workers. Your magnanimity has not only spoken volumes of how you feel for the workers but also showcases your sincere determination to ensure that workers are happy and well taking care of under your leadership.

We can go on and on enumerating your achievements but for want of time, permit me our dear Solution Governor, at this juncture, to present some of the biting problems and demands from the Congress that need your attention and intervention Sir. They include but not limited to the under listed:
NEW NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE: Congress desires to bring to your kind attention that the new minimum wage of N30,000 and its consequential adjustment has not been fully implemented in the state. Congress, therefore, suggests and pleads that Mr. Governor should look into the agreement of January 24, 2020 between the state government and organized labour over the full implementation of new minimum wage and its consequential adjustment and find a way of implementing it. Workers pressure is becoming increasingly unbearable and we may not continue to hold them.
CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SCHEME: It is on record that since 2014 the contributory pension scheme started in the state, it seems that the scheme was designed not to succeed as monies deducted from workers’ salaries were not remitted regularly to the appropriate quarters. The non- adherence to the pension scheme laws has made the organized labour to take a stand that the scheme be scrap and monies deducted from workers refunded back to them. We remind you, Mr Governor sir, that this decision is yet to see the light of the day. Congress therefore requests for our dear Governor’s pronouncement stopping further deductions from workers’ salaries in the name of the pension scheme.

ARREARS OF GRATUITY AND PENSION: Congress appreciates Mr. Governor for the efforts made so far in the gradual settlement of arrears of gratuity and pension in the state as promised in the last May Day celebration. Congress passionately appeals to you Mr. Governor sir to graciously increase the fund meant for the settlement of these gratuity to be substantial enough. This is to enable the retirees start off something that will help them take care of their old age and families. It is painful to report that some of these retirees are dying of hunger and, most times, they find it difficult to take care of their families and dependents.

REVIEW OF DEDUCTIONS MADE FROM WORKER’S SALARIES FOR RECAPITALIZATION OF NDIOLU MICROFINANCE BANK:

Congress requests for the review of deductions made from workers’ salaries between March 2021 and May 2021 for the recapitalization of Ndiolu Microfinance Bank so as to ascertain how much was deducted/generated, how much was expended and balance after the recapitalization. Mr Governor sir, workers deserve to know the details of the money they contributed. We know that your administration will never support any form of cheating for you are widely known for your prudence and transparency. Congress therefore appeals to you our dear Governor to investigate the activities and operations of Ndiolu Microfinance Bank with regards to this deduction.

REQUEST FOR MASS RECRUITMNET OF STAFF TO FILL VACANCIES CREATED BY MASS RETIREMENT IN THE SERVICE:

Mr Governor, we cannot cease appreciating you for the thousands of teachers you recruited. Congress appeals to you, Mr Governor sir, to graciously consider the recruitment of staff in the various ministries and parastatals in the state, including ASUBEB/PPSSC.
It is no longer news that our Primary and Secondary schools that used to have at least two watch men per school for day and night duties and drivers that used to drive school buses can no longer be found in the system and the effect is that the lives of our pupils and students are in danger, especially in the face of present day insecurity in the country. Employing watchmen will help in securing the lives of our pupils/students as well as government property.

TRAINING AND RETRAINING OF WORKER:

It is our appeal that our Solution Governor grants our plea for training and retraining of workers through workshops, seminars and in-service training to enable workers to improve their skills. There is a need to train our workers to the capacity that will help them contribute meaningfully to the development of the state as well as be able to compete in the competitive world of work in the global environment. We remind you, our dear Governor that No nation will develop beyond the capacity level of its workforce.
REQUEST FOR PROCUREMENT OF NEW BUSES FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING ONES

Congress sincerely appeals to our amiable Governor to consider procurement of new buses to support the existing ones meant for conveying workers to and from different locations in the state to their places of work. Congress also requests for the prompt maintenance of the existing ones as some of the vehicles can no longer serve the purpose it is meant for.

LOW COST HOUSING FOR WORKERS

Congress sincerely appeals to the Solution Governor to look into the low cost housing estate project meant for workers at Isiagu and see how the state government could meet up with the necessary infrastructure needed to be in place to enable Federal Mortgage Bank approve and release the required loan to the developer to enable them continue with the project. We appeal to you our dear Governor to assist the workers in actualizing their dream of having a house of their own, as this project, if actualized, would alleviate the accommodation problems of workers.

REQUEST TO CONDUCT 2021/2022 PROMOTION

Congress earnestly appeals that 2021 and 2022 promotion be approved and conducted so as to bring to an end the old method of promotion arrears in the State, just like gratuity and pension. Congress has observed that most times Gen 35 is not issued to officers till they are due for another promotion.
PROBLEM OF PENSIONERS: Congress appeals for declaration by Fiat of thirty thousand naira (N30,000) as minimum pension in the state. This is eminent our Solution Governor so that the current situation where many pensioners are receiving as low as three hundred and thirty three naira, forty-five kobo (N333.45) as their monthly pension will be a thing of the past.
Consequently, Congress requests for the payment of Arrears of Eleven (11) months pension owed some primary school pensioners from 2002 to 2003, amounting to four hundred and ninety million, One Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty Six Naira Fifty Eight Kobo (N490,184,626.58). The arrears were approved for payment since 2014 and the approval is in the custody of Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) waiting to be disbursed to the beneficiaries.
Congress also appeals to our dear Governor to extend the 2022 Christmas gift of fifteen thousand naira (N15,000) to Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) pensioners in lieu of Christmas rice as they are yet to receive theirs till date.
REQUEST FROM NON ACADEMIC STAFF UNION (NASU)
There is need for recruitment of non-teaching staff in various state educational institutions, especially ASUBEB, PPSC to fill the vacancy created by mass retirement without recruitment/replacement over the years.
PECULIARITY ALLOWANCE: Mr Governor sir, we remind you that 17½ percent peculiarity allowance approved for non-teaching staff of ASUBEB and PPSSC, along-side with Teachers Enhancement Allowance (TEA) for teachers since 2009 has not been implemented till date.
INTEGRATION OF SALARY: Congress appeals for the Integration of Kenneth Dike E-Library Board staff into the central payment system of the state to avert the persistence delay in the payment of salaries and leave allowances of the staff of the board. It is long expected and we vehemently appeal that this matter be put to rest.
Congress earnestly appeals to Mr Governor to look into the condition of service of all the staff of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) with regard to their retirement benefits and Pension.
Mr. Governor sir, please be reminded that we have 33 affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state. This is the main opportunity we have to present all our problems comprehensively. We, therefore, call for your patience and understanding Sir to enable us do justice to these problems. We hope that our guests will also understand. The respected workers of this great state – workers are great!!! No controversy.
REQUEST FROM TEACHERS
IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW RETIREMENT AGE FOR TEACHERS

There is need to implement the new retirement age for teachers as is obtained in some other states – 40 years of service or 65years of age, whichever comes first. We must state here, Mr Governor sir, that states less viable than Anambra have already started the implementation.
INCREASE IN THE RUNNUNG COST: The running cost in the school system (Primary/Secondary) has been drastically eaten up by inflation and therefore there is need for an increased to meet up with the current day’s demands.
RENOVATION AND FENCING OF SCHOOLS: Congress appeal for Renovation and fencing of some important schools especially in the remote areas.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REQUEST:
Congress requests for recruitment of new staff in the Local Government System. It is worthy of note that the last recruitment exercise in the Local government system was in 2004, making it 19 years of no employment in the system. It is clear that in the next 16 years from now there will be no staff in local government System in Anambra State because all the workers would have retired.
We appeal for the consolidation of salaries of Heads Of Local Government Administrators to be at per with their State Counterparts
Congress’ request for conduct of Local government elections will continue to be reoccurring until our demand is met.
REQUEST FROM (NANNM) NATIONAL ASSOCITION OF NIGERIAN NURSES AND MIDWIVES
Congress appeals for government to approve in service training of nurses to meet up with the current health needs of the citizens.
Death of nursing personnel: The nursing workforce has over the years been grossly depleted through retirement, death and most recently, the brain drain to greener pastures overseas and federal health institutions. Congress calls on the state government to massively recruit at least a thousand nurses with various specialties for effective and efficient health care of indigenes and residents in the state.
Approval of 100% CONHESS and implementation of reviewed Hazard Allowance
Governments are called upon to approve 100% consolidated health salary structure (CONHESS) for Nurses and implement the national reviewed hazard allowance for Nurses in order to motivate them for higher productivity and to curb the ravaging brain drain in the health sector.

Congress requests that the salaries of National Light staff be absorbed into the state government central payment system to avert the incessant reductions of salaries of workers without explanation and also to enable the staff of the cooperation benefit from 2020 minimum wage and 10% increment by the Governor, hence removing the corporation from still using 2015 salary table in the payment of workers’ salaries.
ii) Congress is also appealing to the government to come to the aid of workers in the corporation by assisting in settlement of six years leave allowances owned them from 2008 to 2013 and that of 2021.

NATIONAL UNION OF ROAD TRANSPORT WORKERS (NURTW)

Recall that the National Union Of Road Transport Workers is a registered trade union, recognized by law and empowered to unionize members and manage motor parks in all the states of the federation. Therefore, congress appeals to our dear Governor to look into the state chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and see how they can be accorded recognition and be integrated into the business of the government at various motor parks in the state. They are experienced on the Job and can do better, if well channeled.
REQUEST FROM NIGERIA CIVIL SERVICE UNION (NCSU)
Congress requests for prompt promotion, conversion, conducive working environment and functional working materials for effective service delivery in the various ministries and to enhance productivity.
Congress rejects the extension of service after retirement: the request for extension of service after retirement in the service should not be encouraged so as to give way for upcoming civil servants to get to the echelon. It will encourage the upcoming ones to put in their best to ensure that the organizational goal/objectives are achieved. We appeal to Mr Governor to ensure that this request is upheld.
LABOUR HOUSE
Congress earnestly continues to request for our indefatigable Governor’s approval for a parcel of land to be allocated for the construction of Labour House in the State. We are seriously in need of a secretariat and event centre that will House the services and needs of our affiliates unions. This is what is obtained in other states of the federation, including Imo, Abia, Delta and Rivers etc. We shall be eternally gratefully if our dear Solution Governor will kindly and graciously approve this our age-long request. This will help cement the relationship that has been existing between labour and government in the state. We can help in the location, if you so direct Sir.

CONCLUSION:
Mr Governor sir, Our Special Guests, my fellow comrades, gentlemen of the press, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, before I conclude this address, may I once more thank our amiable Governor, the solution to the State Problems, for sparing time to be with us today despite his busy and tight schedules. We give you another thanks for listening to our long address.
To all our special guests and invitees, we are honoured with your presence and patience. We are as well full of gratitude to all our teaming members and affiliates, for your continuous support and solidarity.
May the good Lord grant you all Journey mercies back to your various destinations and happy 2023 Workers Day.
Great Nigeria Workers!!! Great!
Great Nigeria Labour Congress!!! Great!
Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta
Thanks for listening – Remain blessed.