For more than four years, Governor Udom Emmanuel had not attended Workers Day marked every year on May 1 in Akwa Ibom State.
On those occasions, he usually mandated the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo to represent him.
Realising that May 1, 2023 would mark the last Workers Day for him to have attended and mounted salute officially; he unhesitatingly decided to grace the occasion.
The workers from the two principal unions- Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) – splintered into other affiliate unions- had arrived earlier, some few minutes past eight and others after nine O’clock and 10 a.m. respectively.
Subjected to routine security checks at the entrance of Ibom Hall grounds, Uyo, by the operatives of Department of State Security (DSS), the workers bore with equanimity of mind, queued up in a single file, and marched orderly to the venue of the event.
By the time the Governor arrived few minutes to 12 noon, the workers were comfortably seated waiting for commencement of the event.
As soon as the governor arrived at the grounds, he waved to the workers at different directions, but paid cheerleaders hailed him the more.
Armed with a walking stick, Emmanuel who wore the NLC khaki uniform swaggered into the field adorned with different canopies where members of different industrial unions had seated relishing the clement weather.
Emmanuel accompanied by Pastor Umo Eno, the Governor-elect and led by NLC Chairperson, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Sunny James, strutted to motley of workers to exchange pleasantries with them.
Unknown to the governor that some workers had hatched a ‘surprise package’ to dole out to him whom they feel has not done enough to merit their parting acclamation, he burrowed into the unkempt ‘booby trap.’
Like a film trick, some workers bellowed in Akwa Ibom dialect: Isua Ka o! (meaning Old year, go! Outgoing governor, fare well with your scheming and let another governor step in), but stunned Emmanuel persevered the walk with waving.
In a viral video, many joined in howling: Isua ka o! meaning ‘‘Old year go’’- a popular end of New Year’s refrain by Akwa Ibom setting to shout and send old year and its accompaniments into the dustbin of history.
In a way, the refrain or statement could be interpreted in different ways to mean a different thing to different people at diverse climes.
Governor Udom Emmanuel’s response
While addressing the workers later, Governor Emmanuel assured the NLC that the consequential pensions adjustment of retirees was being worked on, and all outstanding pensions and the allowances of medical doctors on housemanship would be cleared before he vacates office on May 29.
Emmanuel stated that the disagreement on promotion arrears of 2011 – 2016 for teachers would be sorted out, adding that the government was waiting for the data on 7.5 percent contributory pensions and would begin the process of refund as soon as the required information reaches the government.
“I had a meeting with the pensioners who brought something to my attention. I stand by my promise that we would correct those issues of the pensioners if their joint report will be ready by Wednesday (I have called a special meeting of exco members) and they promised me that the report would be ready.
“We have done the 2022 promotion. The 2022 promotion has been signed and I would be surprised if the Head of Service has not circulated that because that should go for implementation. 2023 promotion will be done after the appraisal of your performance in 2023. So, I can’t start now to promote you, hoping you will perform. You would perform first before I promote you.
“On the issue of leave grants for primary school teachers, since we took over government and governance, every month, the state has been intervening in helping out at the third tier of government. It is not the fault of the local government, it is the structure of our fiscal responsibility as a nation.
“Whatever we do is a sacrifice on our part that we keep intervening in the local government area. When this was brought to my notice, I said we are going to suspend a lot of projects as a state and intervene immediately. I want to believe that beginning from tomorrow, people will start getting alert.
“On the 7.5 percent contributory pensions for Primary school teachers, I have set up a committee on that, let that committee complete their own report. As I am standing here, in the past 7 years, with 11 months and few days to go, the Chairman of Labour Congress is aware that we are able to reconcile at the state we have paid.
“On the housemanship allowance from January to March, you know my passion for health. If there is one area that the government has invested a lot of money in, it is in the health care delivery system. We are one of the few states in this country today that is paying health care hazards allowance to health workers. So I don’t think the delay of one or two months should be an issue. I am sure the Commissioner will sort that out,” he stated.
“For the Housing Scheme, let me reassure you that before I leave office on May 29, I’m going to commission a Medium Housing Scheme for workers. As of today, we’ve done a lot of units. Just trust me, we’ll commission that before we leave office,” the Governor assured.
Appreciating the robust working relationship he has enjoyed with Akwa Ibom workers by extension the Organised Labour throughout his tenure, the governor asserted that Government and Labour are supposed to partner for the development of the state rather than play rivalry.
On issues of discontentment among workers in some work organisations in the state, Governor Emmanuel said he does not subscribe to victimization but stressed that discipline should be the watchword for all parties.
Pastor Umo Eno’s goodwill message
Governor-elect of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno pledged to continuously prioritise workers’ welfare in the state.
In a solidarity message, he noted that Governor Udom Emmanuel has laid a solid foundation and built a robust relationship with workers, adding that his administration will further on the strides.
The Governor-elect noted that the theme of the year’s celebration, Workers’ Rights and Socio- Economic Justice, is very apt and in line with his vision to ensure that workers across the state and at different levels are rightfully enumerated.
He commended the leadership and members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for their overwhelming support during the electioneering period.
According to him, “We want to use this opportunity to thank the NLC and the TUC for the overwhelming support they gave to us during the election and for making sure that we were returned elected. I thank God that we ended our campaigns with the NLC and the TUC.
“We thank you that you kept to your own side of the promise by voting for us and we will also keep our side of the promise.
“We will like to assure you that we will continue to build on the good works of Governor Udom Emmanuel. The truth about it is that the foundation has been laid, the building raised and the infrastructure provided, and so all we need to do is to complete the building and to continue to prioritize the welfare of workers in our state.
“I like to assure you, because we know that without you no programme of government would see the light of the day, we will work with you.
“We have watched, we have seen, heard and understood your pain points, we guarantee that we will look into them and work with you to ensure that our workers continue to give their best. Don’t forget that once in a while, there will be happy hour,” Eno added.
NLC’s Requests
Earlier, the NLC Chairperson, Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Sunny James, had urged Governor Udom Emmanuel to address the issues of pension adjustment, gratuities, promotion and arrears payment among other things before leaving office on May 29.
James also urged the governor to address the consequential pensions adjustment of retirees in line with the 2020 National Minimum wage Table, and release funds for the payment of gratuities on a monthly basis to all categories of workers in the state.
He requested the release of workers promotion as at where due, saying the on-going teachers disagreement on promotion arrears of 2011–2016 should be cleared as has been done for other categories of workers.
The Chairperson further requested that the outstanding leave grant of Primary School Teachers and Local Government workers be cleared, as well as the refund of 7.5 per cent contributory pension to workers, especially Primary school teachers.
The NLC also appealed to the governor to direct the immediate payment of the four months allowance of medical doctors on housemanship to discourage the exodus of qualified health workers to foreign countries.
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