Organized Labour Meets Enugu Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Hon. Pharm Chika Ugwuoke Over MOU with FG

In a bid to strengthen cooperation with the Enugu State Government, the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) paid a visit to the Commissioner for Labour and Employment in Enugu State today. This visit follows the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between organized labor unions and the Federal Government, involving a significant financial commitment of N2 trillion by the government.

Comrades Fabian Nwigbo, Ben Asogwa, and Ezekiel Omeh, representing the NLC and TUC, engaged in discussions with the commissioner to deliberate on the implementation of the federal agreement at the state  level. During the meeting, they voiced their concerns and expressed optimism for a harmonious collaboration between the state and labor unions to ensure that the benefits of the national-level agreement are extended to the workforce in Enugu State.

In response to the concerns raised by the labor leaders, the Commissioner for Labour and Employment commended the labor unions for their instrumental role in averting recent strike actions through constructive dialogue. He assured them that Governor Dr. Peter Mbah is resolutely committed to the welfare of the state's workers.

The commissioner took the opportunity to highlight some of Governor Peter Mbah's achievements, underlining that proactive measures had been initiated to alleviate the impact of subsidy removal on Enugu citizens. Notably, the planned deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for more affordable transportation had been in progress even before the Federal Government's MOU with labor. This initiative is specially tailored to benefit the state's workers.

Furthermore, the commissioner pointed out that Governor Peter Mbah had successfully cleared outstanding arrears owed to pensioners in the civil service within a few months of taking office. He praised the governor's dedication to equitably distributing palliatives to vulnerable citizens in the state.

Describing Governor Peter Mbah as a "Labor-friendly governor," the commissioner emphasized that the governor is always eager to listen to the concerns of workers and align Enugu State with any measures taken by the federal government to provide relief to Nigerian workers, both in the short and long term.

In a bid to encourage labor unions to collaborate with the government in boosting the state's economy, the commissioner urged them to reorient their members towards increased productivity. He emphasized that the state's workers are a vital resource in driving the economy's growth, with the potential to elevate it from its current status of $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

Concluding his address, the commissioner extended gratitude to the labor leaders for the amicable relationship between the state government and the labor leadership. He also called for understanding, acknowledging that some of the challenges faced by the government had accumulated over time. He assured the labor unions that Governor Peter Mbah would gradually address these issues step by step.

The NLC and TUC leaders, led by Comrades Fabian Nwigbo, Ben Asogwa, and Ezekiel Omeh, expressed their appreciation to the commissioner for the productive dialogue and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the existing harmony between the state and labor unions.

It's important to note that the Federal Government's recent agreement with organized labor, reached on Monday, October 2nd, 2023, is set to cost a staggering N2 trillion. This agreement aims to alleviate the impact of petrol subsidy removal on federal workers and various categories of Nigerians. The government has committed to spending a substantial amount directly on its implementation, underscoring its commitment to addressing the concerns of workers nationwide.