The Anambra State Government has denied recent allegations made by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, during an interview on AIT television and through an alleged letter of notice of industrial action.
Comrade Ajaero accused Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, of anti-worker policies and alleged incitement of other Nigerian state governors against the payment of the proposed N70, 000 minimum wage. He further curiously issued a week’s ultimatum and strike notice over the purported failure to pay the 2019 National Minimum Wage of N30,000, unresolved contributory pension deductions, and the cessation of a N12,000 special palliative allowance.
The state government wishes to categorically debunk these allegations and highlight the commendable strides Governor Soludo has made in improving the welfare and working conditions of Anambra State workers since he assumed office in March, 2022.
In fact, at no time did Governor Soludo incite or influence other state governors against paying the proposed N70, 000 minimum wage. Instead, he has always been sensitive to the welfare of workers. Even as the former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, he was quite responsive to staff wellbeing.
Meanwhile, some of his government’s labour-friendly policies and achievements over the past two years as state governor include the following:
Increase in Salaries: Governor Soludo was the first governor in Nigeria to approve a 10% increase in workers’ salaries in December 2022, just few months he assumed office as governor without prompting, demonstrating his commitment to improving the financial well-being of state employees.