Abia Government promises to address oustanding Labour demands

ABIA state Government has assured the organized labour that it would address all outstanding demands of Labour in the state.

Addressing the May Day rally held yesterday at the Umuahia Township Stadium, Governor Orji commended the Labour body in the state for their mature handling regarding their disagreement with the government.

According to the Governor, the cordial working relationship existing between the state government and the labour body was because they usually adopt constructive dialogue with the government in their demands, instead of taking to the streets.

Governor Orji noted that if they had adopted combatants attitude towards achieving their demands, it would have brought unnecessary tension in the state which would have also frustrated the progress so far, achieved by the government.

Represented by his deputy, Chief Emeka Ananaba, Orji said that Labour in the state had come a long way in demonstrating maturity and productivity.

He said that they have proved to be dependable allies as they have resolved all misunderstandings amicably with the government, assuring that the arrears of Teachers Salary Structure [TSS] and allowances would be cleared in due course.

The Governor told the gathering that government had mounted sustained efforts to reduce unemployment, by creating more jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in the state.

According to him, it was his effort to achieve this, that he established the Ochendo Youth Empowerment programme aimed at providing employment to Abia youth.

Speaking at the ceremony, the state Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC, Comrade Silvanus Eyeh lauded the government for paying Teachers salary up to March.

Eya said: “We want to appreciate the achievements in our education sector more especially the payment of Teachers salaries to March 2013″

He however tasked the government to intensify efforts to clear the arrears of the TSS, as well as that of the minimum wage in the secondary schools.

According to him, doing that would help to reduce the burden of some of the workers in the state.

Eyah also called on the government to look into some of the problems confronting Health workers in the state’s hospitals management board, Ministry of Health, Abia State University Teaching Hospital and the Health Workers in the Local Government who were yet to be paid CONHESS and CONMESS.