Civil servants in Southeast on Monday said they were optimistic of payment of the proposed N540,000 Minimum Wage in the zone from May 1.
Anambra State NLC Chairman, Humphrey Nwafor, disclosed this on Monday at a press conference in Awka to announce a week-long activities of the congress ahead of May 1 Workers Day.
He said the N540,000 Minimum Wage was proposed by the workforce during the South-East Zonal hearing organised by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage in Enugu State.
He said the labour leaders in the zone were in constant talks with government over the matter.
“We are hopeful that a new minimum wage would be announced by the President on May 1. We in the South-East had proposed a minimum wage of N540,000. We are optimistic of something good,” he noted.
According to Nwafor, the week-long activities would project the image of the Congress as well as unite the over 35 affiliate bodies.
He listed part of the activities to include novelty matches among the affiliate bodies, medical outreaches, healthy living lecture by the wife of the state governor, Dr Nonye Soludo.
He said, “On 25-26, we’ll be visiting the prisons and also engage the MD of ASHIA, Dr Simeon Onyemechi who will be taking us on health awareness and other medical outreaches, including eye check.
“The wife of the governor will be delivering speech on healthy living to take place at NUT secretariat.
“April 27th will be grand finale of the sport activities where the winners will be declared and trophies handed over to them.
“On 30th, we’ll visit Sabila and Lovebite facilities in Onitsha which will be culminated with Gala night for the workers to unwind.
Describing the state workforce as engine house that facilitated government activities, Nwafor restated NLC readiness to partner and corporate with the government to move the state forward.
The NLC boss who is less than two years in office, said the week-long activities were part of his campaign promises.
“During my campaigns, I promised to come up with programmes that will unite the workers and give them sense of belonging, at the same time make them see themselves as contributors to the development of the state.
“If we’re having interface with government, we’ll see ourselves as one, as there’s strength in unity. We expect over 70,000 workers in the state to troop out en masse as I believe we have what it takes to place our demands on the table and will be listened to,” he added.
