In keeping with his promise to accord priority to the welfare of workers, the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, has assured workers that their January 2016 salary would be paid on the 15th.

Umahi gave the assurance in his country home, Uburu, when the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress paid him a New Year homage.

The governor, who noted that he had to step down every project last December to give junior workers 100% extra salary and 50% to senior workers, said: “In the next 13 days workers will receive salary for January.”

He stated that the initial misunderstanding he had with the organised labour in the state “was brought by God himself because it made us to be on our toes.”

Umahi attributed the success so far recorded by his administration to God’s instruction, and promised workers of better welfare this new year.

“There is no how we will implement a N101bn budget without the lives of workers changing, absolutely, no how,” he stressed.

The governor maintained his commitment to implementing the 2016 budget 100%, and assured that his fight against corruption in the state was total.

Umahi told the leadership of the organised labour that after the festive period, “we will try to organise properly and move together as a people.”

He added: “ I won’t forget your labour of love; I won’t forget your commitment and I won’t forget all the struggles. We do remember.”

Earlier, in his remark, the Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor, said the delegation came to identify with the governor in this season of the Yuletide.

Nwafor said: “Labour cannot afford to celebrate this Christmas and New Year without coming to identify with this government and to pray that this year will be a better year for the government and workers of Ebonyi State.”

Meanwhile, Umahi has appealed to the people of Ohaozara Local Government Area to unite to attain greater heights this year.

Speaking when the stakeholders of Okposi Okwu and Mgbom Okposi autonomous communities visited him, the governor regretted that the seed of disunity caused by some disgruntled politicians had robbed the area of meaningful progress.

Umahi informed the stakeholders that the street light project of the state government would be extended to Okposi while the Okposi-Ugwulangwu- Ukawu road would be constructed.

He stressed the intention of his administration to develop the salt deposits in the area into modern salt factories as soon as the necessary tests were carried out to ascertain

their quantity and quality.

The governor also announced that all issues relating to “Ezeship” of Okposi Okwu has been put on hold pending the burial of a former Minister of Education, the late Dr. Igwe Aja Nwachukwu.

He warned the youth against cultism, stating that his administration would not fail to prosecute anyone found to be involved in activities that negated the peace of the area.

Governor Umahi later took some time out to inspect the on-going construction of the Amasiri- Okposi-Uburu Road.

He directed the construction company, Conrock Nigeria Ltd., to stop further work on the road, pending its deployment of four bulldozers, three graders, ten tipping trucks and four water tankers to the site.

The governor warned that if after 10 days the contractor failed to meet the his directive, he would terminate the contract.

Governor Umahi also inspected the failed “Akwa Etiti” bridge which links Amangwu Edda in Afikpo South Local Government Area and Amasiri in Afikpo North LGA.

He said that construction of another bridge would commence in the next four weeks to save the people of the area from being cut off totally from the rest of the world.

•Photo shows Governor Umahi.

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