By Jude Michael
The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Anambra State Council, Comrade Humprey Nwafor, has announced that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has suspended the contributory pension scheme and set up a committee to take up the matter, with a view to investigating the money deductions and why they were made and report back within eight weeks.
Comrade Nwafor who made the announcement during a meeting of organized labour in the state with the Anambra State Government, stated that the organized labour raised a seven-point issue and needed it to be addressed.
On the minimum wage and wage award, Comrade Nwafor stated that the Governor also set up a committee to look into it and report back within three months, saying that Anambra minimum wage was based on take-home which implies that the state was compliant in paying the minimum wage in accordance with the provision of the law.
Comrade Nwafor added that the issues surrounding Ndị Olu Microfinance Bank were already being addressed by a committee set up by the state government, stressing that their report was being expected by May, 31, 2024.
He noted that the Governor assured to announce the composition of the membership of the Civil Service Commission and Judicial Service Commission in a matter of hours, announcing that the Governor also approved that a land be designated to build the Organized Labour Union Secretariat.
The meeting of Anambra State Government and leaders of the organized Labour Union in the state was at the Executive Chamber, Government House, Awka, where the seven issues raised by labour were addressed.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo and other top government officials met and addressed all the issues in an over three hour meeting behind closed doors.
The State Chairman of TUC, Comrade Chris Ogbonna, also concurred with the statement made by the NLC State chairman, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor.
Government officials present at the press briefing included the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu; Head of Service, Barrister Theodora Okwy Igwegbe; Chief of Staff, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi; Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake and her Finance counterpart, Mr Izuchukwu Okafor and Special Adviser on Legal Matters, Barrister Tochukwu Nweke, among others
