The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Cross River State on Sunday called on Gov. Ben Ayade to implement workers’ promotion from 2016 till date.
Chairman of NLC in the state, Mr Ben Ukpepi, made the call in Calabar during Workers’ Day celebration at U.J Esuene Stadium.
Ukpepi also called on the state government to as a matter of urgency, implement the minimum wage for workers in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for 2022 Workers’ Day celebration is “Labour Politics and the Quest for Good Governance and Development in Nigeria.
He said that the failure of the state government to implement the promotion of civil servants in the state and the minimum wage had become very worrisome.
According to him, workers in the state deserve their full right of promotion and the benefits that comes with it, hence it was important for the state government to urgently implement it.
“Workers’ Day such as this, provides an opportunity for appraisal of the existing relationship between government and workers.
“It is on this premise that we use this occasion to remind government of pending unresolved issues stated in the memorandum of understanding between the state government and organised labour.
“That the failure to implement promotion of deserving civil servants from 2016 till date is worrisome. The full implementation of minimum wage is still pending, we pray that Gov. Ayade does the needful.
“Also, the annual increment steps of both state and local government workers is yet to be restored.
“Labour demand the payment of hazard allowance and the 30 per cent balance payment of consolidated health salary structure to medical and health workers in the state,” he said.
Also speaking, Chairman of Trade Union Congress in the state, Mr Monday Ogbodum, said that Nigerian workers were facing numerous challenges, ranging from poor wages, casualisation and redundancy.
Ogbodum called on the state government to uplift the embargo on employment with a view to give room for qualified graduates to be recruited into the state civil service.
