By joshua 
I’ll prioritize your welfare, uphold dignity of labour-Nwifuru tells Ebonyi workers
—-Announces #10,000 lunch allowance to workers
By Agbo Amauche, Abakaliki
Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has said that his administration would prioritize on the welfare of workers and uphold their dignity in the State.
The Governor made the statement during workers day celebration held at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium in Abakaliki, the State capital.
The Governor who announced the payment of 10,000 naira lunch allowance to all workers across the State, noted that under his watch the State civil service shall be a symbol of excellent and integrity.
Governor Nwifuru stated that the dignity of labour remains a core pillar of his administration. He emphasized the importance of rewarding productivity, innovation, and professionalism within the state’s workforce, and assured that the government would continue to prioritize policies that uplift the working conditions of employees across all sectors.
The governor acknowledged that in view of the current harsh economic realities, that his administration would remains resolute in ensuring the prompt payment of salaries to workers, even as he has paid pensions and gratuities to retired civil servants from 1996 till date, and has also implemented the new national minimum wage.
He announced the introduction of a streamlined retirement system designed to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks hitherto faced by the civil servants during their retirement period.
He urged the workers to reciprocate his administration’s good will with increased dedication, integrity, and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
The Governor also pledged closer collaboration with labour unions and various stakeholders to ensure continued access to more dividends of democracy by Ebonyi workers.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ebonyi State Chapter, Prof. Ogugua Egwu, acknowledged the invaluable contributions of workers to national development, and however lamented the poor standard of living of average workers in Nigeria. Prof Ogugua Egwu who decried that though the workers are yet to occupy their pride of place in the country, however appreciated Governor Nwifuru for always having the interest of the workers at heart.
He appealed to the governor to do upward review of the pensions of the senior citizens who have served and retired meritoriously to reflect the 2024 new national minimum wage.
Prof. Egwu also called for increased attention to provision of shelter for the workers, expanded transportation services, payment of bulk leave allowances, and intervention for prompt payments of salaries to local government staff, especially the teachers, in accordance with the new minimum wage. He appreciated the Governor for including the cost implications of the consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage in the 2025 budget, and passionately appealed for more support for grassroots workers.
The NLC boss further appealed for Governor’s intervention over the outrageous house rent in the State to ameliorate the sufferings of Ebonyi workers.
The chairman of trade union congress (TUC) Comrade Chidi Igboji commended Governor Nwifuru for his commitment and dedication to improving the welfare of Ebonyi workers. He charged workers in the State to be dedicated to their statutory duties as they are the backbone of the State economy.
The head of service in Ebonyi State Dr. Rita Mary Okoro appealed to Governor Nwifuru for the provision of more office equipments to the various ministries, portable water supply to the secretrait among others for optimal productivity while stressing the need for the training of recently recruited civil servants and permanent secretaries for more efficient and quality service delivery.