Abia state government has denied that its recently approved N15,000 wage award for civil servants in the state for a period of three months was done as a result of the threat by the organized labour to embark on indefinite strike action from this week.
It will be recalled that the governor of the state, Alex Otti had announced the approval after meeting with the leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the governor’s country home in Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South LGA.
The two labour unions had argued that the award, announced by the federal government earlier this year to cushion the effects of the economic downturn on workers have not been paid by Otti’s government after several pleadings by the organized labour for it to do so.
The N15,000 award, according to the government, will run for a period of three months with effect from July, 2024.
The State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu who made this known in Umuahia, stated the government will always accommodate workers in the state in the scheme of things.
Kanu was who was briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s executive council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti opined that the wage award is “part of efforts of the state government to cushion the effects of the prevailing economic hardship in the country”.
While restating the commitment of the Otti’s administration to the welfare of Abia workers, the commissioner said that government would soon commence the payment of annual leave/allowance to civil servants who actually observe their annual leave.
He word, “because of the governor’s commitment to workers’ welfare, he accepted to pay Abia workers a wage award of 45 thousand naira in total but at 15 thousand per month over the course of three months”.
On the outbreak of cholera in the state, the Information Commissioner said that the state is cholera and diphtheria-free as all the 112 suspected cases of cholera recorded in eight LGAS of the state have tested negative after taking them to the laboratory in Lagos.
“I want to announce to us that Abia is Cholera and diphtheria-free. Between 30th of June and 7th of July, a total of 112 suspected cases of Cholera were reported, cutting across 8 LGAs.
“Following various tests carried out and the samples collected across these 8 LGAs, there were no reported cases of death, and not even a confirmed case of Cholera.
“There were some reported cases, about 12 reported cases of diphtheria across the state in particularly in just two LGAs of Osisioma and Umuahia South. Unfortunately, there were three deaths resulting from those suspected cases but the test did not confirm that there were further cases of diphtheria.
Speaking also, the Special Adviser to the governor on Health, Dr Mrs Ngozi Azodoh revealed that all suspected cases of cholera collected across eight LGAS tested negative after laboratory tests, saying that they are working with relevant agencies to ensure that Abia maintains cholera-free status.
“We, accordance with the protocols conducted a rapid diagnostic test, and out of those rapid diagnostic tests, only 3 came out RDT positive. We had to send those RDT positive cases to the national reference laboratory for confirmation and we are happy that all of them came back negative.
“So we are cholera free as s state. However, we will continue to maintain high levels of surveillance.
“We also had a diphtheria scare at Umueze community, very close to Abia state University Teaching hospital,Aba. We identified 12 people, we treated them and they are doing well. We also designated Abia State University Teaching Hospital as the treatment centre.” Azodoh maintained.