Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has issued a stern warning to workers in the state who are participating in the ongoing strike over the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage.
The governor, in a live broadcast from the Government House in Abakaliki, declared that any worker who fails to return to their duties within 72 hours will be replaced and have their salary withheld.
Nwifuru’s statement came less than 24 hours after the strike, which is part of a broader action by workers in several states across Nigeria over the delayed payment of the new minimum wage.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ebonyi, Prof. Oguguo Egwu, had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the governor’s response to the issue, accusing him of a lack of urgency in addressing the plight of civil servants in the state.
Governor Nwifuru, visibly frustrated, emphasized that he had fulfilled his obligations to the workers, claiming that salaries had been paid in accordance with agreements and the law.
“If you don’t go to work, not only will I withhold your salary, but I will replace you within 72 hours,” he warned, stressing that the state government was not at fault in the ongoing dispute.
In his address, Nwifuru further explained that all commissioners, agency heads, and departments would be required to ensure that workers return to their posts. He instructed the Civil Service Commission to monitor attendance and verify the workers who report for duty.
He added that those who comply with the directive would be paid based on the number of days they attended to their duties.
