By Jennifer John
Imo State Government has signed an agreement with the leadership of organized labour on the welfare of Imo workers.
The national leadership of the unions that make up the organized labour was in Imo State as a result of the crisis in the state chapter of the Nigerina Labour Congress (NLC). This led to the reported sacking of the leadership led by Austin Chilakpu and replacement with the Ndubuisi Ucheghara led caretaker leadership.
The agreement was signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Cosmos Iwu, and the Commissioner for Information, Hon Declan Emelumba as well as the Head of Service, Dr Chibuzo Iwuagwu who represented the state government.
The signatories for the organized labour included; Nasiru Idris, on behalf of NUT, Musa Lawal for TUC and Emmanuel Ugbaja for NLC.
After a closed door meeting between the state governor and the national leadership of organised labour at the government house Owerri, the two groups reportedly came up with a communiqué which was presented to government house correspondents by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Sir Cosmas Iwu, in the company of other top government functionaries
According to the communiqué, the national organized labour delegation commended the state government for prompt payment of salaries and agreed that a joint committee of NLC, TUC and government be set up to handle any complaints of nonpayment of salaries after verification.
They will also help the government to commence immediate payment of minimum wage, while ongoing negotiations on consequential adjustments continue.
The communiqué further stated that both parties agreed that there should be immediate payment of check off dues to relevant labour unions in the state, including agreement to set up committee to look into issues in the joint health sector.
