By Ikeugonna Eleke
The Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has described allegations by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, that he was inciting other governors against accepting the N70, 000 minimum wage as false.
Comrade Ajaero made the accusation during an interview on national TV.
But in a press release by his Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, Soludo denied that he was running an anti-workers government in Anambra, while also listing his numerous achievements for workers in the state.
Aburime said: ‘The state government wishes to categorically debunk these allegations.
‘In fact, at no time did Governor Soludo incite or influence other state governors against paying the proposed N70, 000 minimum wage.
‘The government of Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo has enjoyed a smooth and cordial relationship with the labour leaders in Anambra State, even as at the time of issuing this statement, no letter of notice of industrial action has been received by the State Government.’
Governor Soludo urged the NLC and all workers in the state to disregard such allegations and recognize what he described as the substantial progress and numerous initiatives undertaken by his administration to enhance workers’ welfare and human capital development.
He said the proposed strike was unnecessary and counterproductive at this juncture, noting that it seemed as though the NLC leadership was being politically influenced by ‘Desperate external actors to orchestrate an artificial industrial crisis in Anambra State’.
