Workers’ Day: Anger as TUC, NLC accuse Ayade of failing to honour MOUs

Labour unions, comprising the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, in Cross River State disclosed that the governor of the state, Ben Ayade, has failed to honour the Memorandum of Understanding reached with the groups over the years.

The unions also decried the delay in the recruitment into the state civil service.

The unions stated this at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar, during the 2023 Workers’ Day celebration.

They condemned the non-implementation of workers’ promotions since 2016.

The state TUC Chairman, Monday Ogbodum, said, “Your Excellency sir, permit me to use this opportunity to remind you that the state civil service is almost empty because the majority of the workforce is retired and more will, before the end of 2023.

“May I at this point pause to ask His Excellency, what has happened to the recruitment of men into the Civil Service and Public Service of Cross River State, which thousands of Cross Riverians, were seen running from pillar to post borrowing resources, to procuring the process? What has happened to that recruitment process?” he queried.

The governor, in his speech, said there has been a good workers-government relationship due to his government’s commitment to workers’ welfare as exemplified by the regular payment of salaries in the state. Ayade, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Tina Agbor, said, “This is the last Workers’ Day we shall be celebrating together. Extend the same support you have given to our administration to the incoming administration.

“In the past eight years, we have endeavoured to pay salaries at a good pace. I urge you to remain ever-productive. Put in your best and uphold the high standards of the civil service.”

Also speaking, the state Head of Service, Head of Service, Timothy Akwaji, told the workers that, “a time has come when the labour unions should help us by championing productivity by urging staff to show commitment to productivity. A lot of our workers are doing what they can, but the majority are not doing what they are supposed to do.

“Some of our workers stroll into work by 9 O’clock just sign and disappear. If we put up such attitude, there will be no productivity, which, no matter how we advance the frontier, nothing meaningful can happen.” Punch