The Imo State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress led by Comrade Chigemezu Nwigwe has appealed to the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma to complete the payment of pensioners’ gratuities.
Nwigwe made the appeal as the State chapter of the NLC joined its counterparts to mark 2025 Workers Day Celebration at Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu square in Owerri.
He said that workers in the State appreciate the Governor’s effort in establishing harmonious relationship with the workers’ union in the State, especially in providing a reliable transportation system for workers and making the State secretariat complex more conducive to workers while carrying out their day-to-day activities.
The NLC boss in the State, however, enjoined the Governor to ensure that the long abandoned gratuities of pensioners by previous administrations becomes a thing of the past.
“We appeal to His Excellency to continue the exercise of payment of pensioners, because of those who are yet to get paid.
“We assure you of the continued support of Imo workers to the growth and development of the State,”; he said.
Addressing the workers, Uzodinma congratulated them, assuring them that all issues relating to shortfalls in the payment of the new minimum wage and promotions will be resolved.
He urged the workers to always adopt dialogue rather than confrontations as a means of resolving differences with the Government.
“I recall with some sense of regret that for many years before 2020, Imo workers suffered abandonment by previous administrations without promotions, suffered manipulated payroll system, irregular payment of pensions, and non-payment of gratuities for well over 15 years.
“The 2025 May Day celebration calls for a reflection on the greater path that the Imo workers have trod until now that they are enjoying the automated payroll system, regular payment of salaries and pensions, as well as payment of gratuities to retired workers, and the promise to commence payment of the second tranche of gratuities to pensioners,”; the governor maintained.
The number one citizen of the State revealed that plans are underway for special salary scale for teachers and medical personnel, saying the State Government is poised to attract the best hands in those sectors knowing the critical roles they play in shaping the future.
Uzodinma thanked the State House of Assembly for repealing what he regarded as obsolete laws which he said prevented reforms in the health sector.
“I seize this opportunity to encourage the civil servants to enroll in the Health Insurance Scheme initiated by this Government as the benefits of enrolling cannot be measured.
“I charge the workers to strive to be civil in their conduct and actions as government will not tolerate indolence and corrupt practices,”; the governor warned.
