Return to work now!

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state calls on striking workers of the state to return to work immediately in the interest of peace and development of the state. (Pictures show map of Anambra state (left) and Gov. Obi (right)

In a broadcast to the people of the state yesterday (Saturday February 14), Obi lamented that strike was politically motivated, and that the workers allowed themselves to be cajoled into embarking on strike despite the excellent working conditions in the state. The workers had, on Friday (February 13), downed tools. Full text of Obi's broadcast:

My dear Ndi Anambra.

The strike action embarked upon today by the Anambra State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress betrays their poor reading of the current parlous state of both the Nigerian and the global economy. It has also come in spite of all the genuine efforts made by Government to dissuade the NLC leadership against the industrial action. The conclusion to draw from this action by Organised Labour is that it is politically motivated.

This Government was recently awarded the honour of the best labour-friendly state in the South-East geo-political zone. The award underlined the various positive actions taken by this administration to promote productivity and labour contentment. For instance, since the inception of this administration nearly three years ago, the salaries of civil servants have been increased on four different occasions. It is on record that no previous administration effected any salary increases in Anambra State since the inception of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

Not only that, this government cleared all the leave allowances owed to the state's workers since 2001.

It is on record that a previous administration in this state owed workers a year's backlog of unpaid salaries. Yet the heavens did not fall. Yet this Government is current and up-to-date in the payment of salaries and perquisites.

The salary scales paid in Anambra State compare favourably with what obtains in at least fifteen other states of the Federation. To be specific, Ebonyi and Enugu, two South East states in the same income bracket with Anambra, pay salaries that are commensurate with our own pay structure.


There is the case of the salary arrears owed to workers of the Anambra State Water Corporation, which Labour put at over 50 months, not reckoning with the fact that this administration has been in office for only 35 months. More important, however, is that a Government/Labour meeting took place on Wednesday February 4, 2009 at which I was physically present. At that meeting, the NLC mentioned a "most pressing" need, which was for Government subvention to offset, at least, three months of the arrears owed the Water Corporation. They asked for subvention because, in truth, Government does not owe the Water corporation any salaries. Yet Government issued, only last week, a cheque for N200 million to offset the salary arrears owed to the Water Corporation workers for 16 months. Yet, the NLC insisted on going on strike.

I wish to draw the attention of Ndi Anambra to a most crucial point which the NLC has studiously avoided. The global economy is in tatters. Layoffs are the order of the day across the continents. The economic meltdown is also afflicting, not only Anambra State but the whole of Nigeria . It is because we are in dire straits that, only on Tuesday, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua directed the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to carry out a downward review of the salaries and allowances of all Federal political office holders. Shortly after the presidential directive, all State Governors endorsed it at the meeting of the National Economic Council. As I address you this morning, the statutory appropriation to Anambra State is down by over N500 million this February. Indeed these times call for austerity measures. Yet the Anambra NLC is downing tools in agitation for fatter pay cheques!

Is this the sort of economic climate in which to go on strike for higher wages? This Government built the first Secretariat in Anambra State because we have the interest of the workers at heart and want them to work in an atmosphere conducive for productivity and fulfillment. We are building Judges residential quarters and judicial offices across the state. We are renovating schools and hospitals. We are providing utility vehicles to all arms of government to facilitate governance. These should count in our contributions to teachers and hospital personnel because it is our children that will benefit from better learning and our people that will get better health delivery.

To further show the bad faith demonstrated by the NLC leadership, I must mention the discussions we had on the issue of the Teachers Special Scale (TSS). The National Union of Teachers (NUT) gave an ultimatum that the TSS should be effected in Anambra by February 20, 2009. That date has not even reached. Yet the NLC claims that is a major reason for its action. It should be noted that the TSS is not currently being paid in any South East State , including the oil-producing ones.

This Government has consistently made it clear that its huge wage bill and the Anambra Integrated Development Strategy policy of developing all sectors simultaneously make it imperative that our Internally Generated Revenue must begin to attract rich dividends. Statutory appropriation alone will not deliver the perks that the NLC is hankering after. The timing of their action is wrong and insensitive.

The NLC should not compromise its integrity by falling for the manipulative tendencies of political renegades who clearly do not wish Anambra State well. Political charlatans who wish this administration no good should not be allowed to hide behind the screen of industrial action to cause avoidable confusion. I urge parents to dissuade their relations from becoming tools for the implementation of a negative political agenda in our peaceful and stable state.

Already in the streets some known criminals have been spotted dressed as NANS members and forcing workers from their offices. Was it overnight that they printed the T-shirts in support of their misadventure? A word is enough for the wise. The NLC leadership should call off its misdirected action and return to constructive engagement. I wish to strongly make the point that no employer pays salaries that are above its income. These times call for reason and patriotism. For this, I am calling a meeting of Anambra stakeholders, traditional rulers, town union presidents and religious leaders in order that our dear state be saved from the evil designs of charlatans.

Thank You.