Workers in Ebonyi State have embarked on a mega solidarity walk in appreciation of Governor Nwifuru’s welfare packages to them.
The workers were under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.
Numbering about ten thousand, they marched through the major roads and streets within the State capital singing praises of the governor and his rare magnanimity.
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The walk terminated in front of the Governor’s office, Centenary city, Abakaliki.
Addressing the workers, Governor Francis Nwifuru described their action as very overwhelming and challenging to him.
He stated that he was touched by the plights of the state workers on assumption of office and vowed to steadily improve their wellbeing.
He emphasized that it takes far less than the humongous amount which some Governors spend in needless foreign trips to take good care of Nigerian workers.
He assured the workers that all they have received from him already were just the beginning of the pleasant surprises he has in store for them.
Nwifuru added: “You have seriously challenged me at this moment, and I don’t know what to do or say.
“But definitely, God Almighty will give me the wisdom and the strength to work with you.
“Sincerely, I want to tell you that we are sailing the ship together, and we are all sanctioned into great responsibility for the interest of our dear people and state.
“I want you to know clearly that this appreciation of yours is a great challenge to the government of Ebonyi state, and I want you to know that with this appreciation, workers in other states must definitely envy you.
“I want you to also have it in mind that as you have challenged me rightly, I am also going to challenge you unannounced, and we are going to start from the teachers, the headmasters and principals of secondary schools.”
While appreciating the workers for their choice of an excellent NLC chairman in the state, he announced a meal donation of N10,000 to each worker in the State for embarking on such a surprising and unsolicited solidarity march, to be incorporated in their January salary.
Earlier, the NLC chairman, Professor Ogugua Agwu and his TUC counterpart had taken turns to eulogize the Governor, listing all the Governor had done for the workers of the state within the few months of his leadership.
Ogugua stated that workers of the State have never had it so good and enumerated full payment of backlog of gratuities to retired civil servants, palliative of monthly N10,000 to all workers as well as the Christmas bonus of N100,000 to every worker in the State as few of the Governor’s largesse.
He added that Nwifuru has also revolutionalised the health sector and the civil service sector through equipment and employment of highly qualified personnel which has revived the sectors for optimal performance.
The Labour leaders further congratulated the Governor on his electoral victory at the Supreme Court, describing it as a divine confirmation of Ebonyi people’s will.
They assured the Governor of the continued solidarity, dedication and commitment of all workers in the state.
In an interview, the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Samson Nwafor said the Governor’s goodies are all inclusive, extending beyond the borders of the state civil servants.
Nwafor said: “The Governor we have today does not segregate.
“He reaches out to every category of people in the state, and journalists who are serving in Ebonyi are not left out; they have enjoyed the Governor’s Christmas packages and other goodies of the Governor.
“He donated a bus to the union, among other things, and we have every reason to appreciate him.”
