Gov Umahi Orders Arrest Of Factional NLC Chairman

TRACKING>>Ebonyi State governor, Chief David Umahi has ordered security agencies and the state commissioner for Internal Security to facilitate the immediate arrest of the factional chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor who held a factional delegate congress last week in Abakaliki.

Comrade Nwafor had since his removal from office by some leaders of the union purported to be working for the state government and replaced by the state chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees, Comrade Leo Nkah, continued to carry out his activities as the authentic chairman of the union.

Governor Umahi gave the directive while addressing civil servants during the Workers Day Celebration held at the Abakaliki Township Staduim today. Governor Umahi insisted that “no other leadership of the union exist in the state outside the one recognised by the state and headed by Comrade Leo Nkah. I therefore ask the security agencies and the state commissioner for Internal Security to immediately arrest anyone parading himself as the chairman of NLC in Ebonyi”.

On the N30,000 minimum wage approved by the federal government, Governor Umahi said that the state is committed to the payment of the new minimum wage in the state adding that his understanding of the new minimum wage is to ensure that every civil servant in the state who receives less than N30, 000 would have their salaries increased to the amount.

He also maintained that the promotion of civil servants in the state would henceforth be based on available vacancies in the different establishments and ministries adding that government would not continue to promote civil servants in the state when there are no vacancies for those promoted to fill.

Governor Umahi expressed displeasure on the recent killings in the state during the communal crisis that erupted between Ikwo and Abakaliki people which prompted him to seize the salaries of civil servants of both local government areas.

Umahi who declined plea by the leadership of the NLC to rescind his decision and pay the workers their sized salary maintain that he would only pay the salary when relative peace must have returned to the area.

Earlier in an address, the factional chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Leo Nkah had called on the governor to implement the new minimum wage in the state and urged the governor to implement the committee report on promotion, conversion and advancement in the civil and public service.

LEADERSHIP also gathered that the Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor’s led faction of the union also held its Workers Day celebration in an undisclosed venue in the state capital.