As Nigeria celebrates Workers’ Day, members of the organized labour in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria, are expressing gratitude to the State government for approving what they describe as a historic new Minimum wage.
This wage increase is N10,000 higher than the national Minimum wage.
However, while grateful over the Governor’s gesture, the workers are calling for further improvements, particularly in the areas of consequential adjustments and the harmonization of pension salaries for retirees.
At an elaborate event held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu city, workers who were donned in various attires, marched in unity to mark the occasion.
Governor Peter Mbah who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Victor Udeh, stood to receive their salutes and reiterated State government’s commitment to the welfare of Enugu’s workforce.
And from neighbouring Ebonyi State, workers’ converged on the Abakaliki township stadium to commemorate the 2025 Workers’ Day Annual event with the theme: “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship”
The leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Ebonyi State chapter, believe that the theme of this year’s event is apt, as it is a stark reminder of the prevailing harsh economic realties faced by workers’ in the civic space.
Both the State leadership of the NLC and some Workers’ expressed frustration on the inflationary figures and its effects on running the household, renting affordable houses and other prevailing domestic and social challenges.
They however commended the Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru for what they described as rewriting the narrative of Workers’ in the State within his two years in office.
But, Governor Francis Nwifuru didn’t mince words in reminding the Workers’ of the multifaceted challenges confronting the State, and the urgent need to address them.
While revealing that his administration has been able to clear backlogs of pension and gratuities since 1996 till date, the Governor assured the leadership of the organised labour that the State government will address workers’ welfare issues and improve their working standards.
Editor: Ken Eseni
