Workers in Anambra State on Monday declared a one-week warning strike to press home their demand for the full implementation of the N18,000 new minimum wage.
But the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, who said he was committed to paying the new wage, described the workers’ decision as politically-motivated.
The declaration of strike happened a few minutes after Obi addressed a rally where he reiterated commitment to pay the wage.
The rally was called by the Nigeria Labour Congress to brief the workers on the status of its negotiations with the government on the issue.
But just as the labour leaders were trying to calm the agitated workers, the governor and other top government and party officials drove into the venue of the rally.
After overcoming protests from the workers, who did not want to hear him speak, Obi eventually mounted the platform, and told them (workers) how committed he was to paying the wage.
As the governor left, the crowd was divided between a group that was singing his praises and another that was raining abuses on him.
The motion for the warning strike was moved by Mr. Onyi Okafor of the Association of Senior Civil Servants.
The motion said Anambra workers had rejected the proposal offered by the government and that they wanted the minimum wage applied across board.
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Anambra workers begin strike