Labour Unions a Platform for Dialogue Not for War: HOS Tells Leaders

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By MaryAnn Chukwuma

The Anambra State Head of Service, Barr.Theodora Okwy Igwegbe, mni has charged the various Labour Union Heads to ensure that they align their operations with  the government’s agenda to enable rapid actualization of planned workers’ welfare packages.

She made this call during the State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (SJPSNC) meeting held yesterday at the Committee Hall of the Office of the Head of Service, Awka.

The Head of Service, who is also the Chairman of the State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council in her opening remarks, reeled out some issues affecting workers and her efforts towards providing solutions.

Barr. Igwegbe called on the labour leaders to work as a team with the present administration if such challenges faced by workers which they have presented to her office at different occasions must be resolved.

“As Head of Service, I am committed to promoting transparency, accountability and efficiency in the Civil Service”. The Chairman noted.

She highlighted issues like the review of the  Pension Law while assuring the labour leaders that not a penny of the contributed pension of the state’s workers would be lost to the Pension Funds Administrators, having consulted widely on the issue.

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She also assured them that the government has since started to contribute it’s 10% counterpart funds to the  pension scheme from the inception of Governor Soludo’s administration.

The Civil Service boss reassured workers that the 3 months deductions from workers’ salaries for  recapitalization of the Ndiolu Microfinance Bank has been deliberated upon and in the case where the planned recapitalization fails the monies would be refunded.

Barr. Igwegbe assured the leaders that the administration of Prof. Charles Soludo remains committed to solving the workers’ housing deficit through accessing the Federal Mortgage funds as the government is committed to exploring every available window to better the lots of workers.

Representing the government at the Joint Negotiation Council meeting, the Head of Service affirmed that the workers of the defunct Anambra Water Corporation Board were not left out in the Government’s plan and that they would surely receive their entitlements following the out of court settlement that has been embarked on.

Igwegbe also talked on her efforts to bring workers promotion up to date as a way of correcting the anomaly she met on ground at the inception of office and promised that she would continue to knock on the executive doors of the government until the genuine requests presented by Labour Unions are met.

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She then advised the Labour leaders to always ensure they pass through proper channels when any need arises. She advised writing to her office with necessary details and attaching laws, policy documents as well as resolutions that would help her in making informed decisions pertaining to such issues as may be presented before her.

Igwegbe then called on Labour Unions to embrace peace amongst themselves and to translate that peace into actions in line with the efforts of the government.

On her own part, while addressing the Council, the Vice Chairman JNC, representing the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Edith Onwuka expressed her satisfaction with the efforts of the government thus far in solving the matters as raised by workers in the state.

Mrs. Onwuka noted that the passion which the government exhibits can be felt by all and sundry and as such they were left with no option other than giving their unreserved support so as to fast track the dividends of good governance demonstrated by the governor and his team.

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Onwuka again put forward the issue of politicizing the office of the Government Printer noting that such office should be reserved for Civil Servants who usually give their productive years to the service of government.

During her vote of thanks, Mrs. Onwuka praised the efforts of the Head of Service, Barr. Okwy Igwegbe, mni  for being a great adminstrator and one whose tenure has restored unity in the JNC and prayed for more wisdom in carrying on the Herculean task her office is ladened with.

She also extended her thanks to the Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR for always being a listening governor and asked that he continues to let his doors open for the Labour Unions while assuring him of their unreserved support. 

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