Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has threatened to dismiss workers who participate in a strike over the non-payment of the new national minimum wage of N70,000 by his administration.
The governor delivered this warning on Monday in Abakaliki, the state capital, when he issued a 72-hour ultimatum for striking workers to return to their duties or face dismissal.
Nwifuru’s ultimatum was announced during a meeting in his office, responding to the one-week industrial action declared by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Oguguo Egwu.
Comrade Egwu had mentioned on Sunday that the strike was in line with a directive from the national leadership of the NLC, issued on November 8, 2024, urging state councils in non-compliant areas to enforce the new minimum wage.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the strike, Governor Nwifuru pointed out that the National Assembly approved a minimum wage, not a general salary increase.
He stated, “The National Assembly did not pass a bill for salary increments but for a minimum wage. It also did not stipulate a maximum wage payable to workers.”
The governor emphasised the need to prioritise public interest over personal agendas, saying, “The state cannot stand idle while personal interests undermine public welfare.
“It is surprising that labor unions initiated a strike after I began implementing the new minimum wage in October.”
Governor Nwifuru also maintained that the state government has no outstanding obligations to workers, asserting, “I do not owe any worker in Ebonyi State salaries, pensions, or gratuities. If you choose to stay home under the guise of a strike, you will be replaced within 72 hours.”
To ensure compliance, he ordered that attendance registers be maintained in all ministries and government offices.
“We will closely monitor attendance, and only workers who sign in will receive salaries. Regarding negotiations, I see no need for them, as Comrade Egwu is not an employee of the state government,” he warned.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that workers in some sectors, including primary and secondary schools, ignored the strike directive.
