The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Anambra State Council, and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASSCN), Anambra State chapter, have commended Governor Willie Obiano for recalling the staff of Water Corporation and paying them several years of arrears owed them.
The TUC also applauded the decision of Obiano’s government to absorb the over 100 Anambra State Broadcasting service (ABS) staff who were sacked by the previous administration.
These were contained in the in a 10-point communiqué issued at the end of a special session of TUC in Awka on Monday and signed by the Anambra State chairman of the congress, Comrade Ifeanyi Okechukwu.
Okechukwu, who is also the Anambra State chairman of ASSCN, said Obiano’s government has shown humaneness since inception.
TUC showered praises on Obiano for the various strides his government has made since he assumed office early last year.
The labour organisation commended the security efforts of the Obiano administration especially during the Christmas festivities, as there was no case of armed robbery and with the return of nightlife as well as events like the Anambra Heritage programmes that it said were was unique and commendable.
It urged the operation “Nkpochapu” set up by Obiano not to relent in its duty of riding the state of criminals and kidnappers in order to restore economic vibrancy of the state among the comity of states in the South East.
It stated: “the payment of all the arrears of Water Corporation staff and recalling them back to work epitomised the humanness of the Governor… the governor in his magnanimous stance has recalled and absorbed to various ministries the staff of ABS retrenched by the past Governor as a mark of concern for human sensitivity. Now the only mouthpiece of Anambra State can be heard in any part of South East as against what it was before.”
The statement said further that TUC noted with satisfaction, “the kick-starting of three flyovers simultaneously at Awka, the state capital will give the needed face-lift Awka has been longing for. The commitment of the governor to see to the accomplishment of the three flyovers is praiseworthy and something that give all the peace loving Ndi Anambra the joy and pride.”
The statement read in part: ‘’Secondly, the promise he made to the workers during the civil service day to give to every worker a full bag of foreign rice has been fulfilled. This singular feat depicts His Excellency as a man of truth and integrity as against some politicians who will promise and not be able to fulfil.
“Thirdly, the determined effort of His Excellency to complete the multi-billion Agulu Lake Bridge and Agulu Lake Tourist Hotel/Edifice is another feat to the feather of His Excellency. By this act, it portrays that His Excellency understands that government is in a continuum. When this gargantuan project Agulu Lake Tourist Hotel is completed, it will create jobs for our teeming youths roaming about without jobs.
“Fourthly, the operation “Ocha” cleanliness outfit is another project at the heart of Ndi Anambra as to create a serene and secure environment conducive for healthy Ndi Anambra and banish all diseases associated with unclean environment.
“Sixthly, the mobilisation of local government chairmen in the 21 local government areas with various sums of money to put the roads of our communities in good shape is a worthy venture. Even the provision of 177 communities with the sum of N1.5 million each is a mark of respect for our communities by the governor.”
“Seventhly, the revolutionary stride in agricultural facet is commendable. The opening of those areas by the provision of infrastructural facilities to make them motorable and mechaniaation of agriculture are astounding achievements by no mean standard.”
TUC appealed to Obiano to ensure his promise of improving their salary by this 2015, adding ,’’We believe that His Excellency will cap it up by adding reasonable amount of money to the salaries of workers come this January 2015 as promised earlier in the year, just as he did by provision of rice to all workers, in accordance to his promise. Obiano has proved that he is a man of honour and does not do things anyhow.
Okechukwu urged workers to work hard to improve on the financial base of the state as the Governor will not fail in his promises to workers and to entire Anambra State citizenry, while praying God give him wisdom and enabling grace to pilot the affairs of the state.
