Tag: Nwifuru

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to civil servants, warning that any worker who fails to report to their duty post will be dismissed.

Speaking at a media parley in Abakaliki, the state capital, Nwifuru disclosed plans to pay workers based on the number of days they report to work. 

He directed heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to maintain attendance registers to track staff compliance.

The governor’s directive came in response to a one-week strike initiated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, which disrupted operations in government offices.

The NLC had earlier informed the governor through a letter that the strike was in protest of his unilateral decision to implement a wage award for workers instead of adhering to the agreed minimum wage. 

The union criticised the move, describing it as a breach of standard Labour-Government protocols.

They argued that when a minimum wage is pronounced, it goes through the rigorours process of consequential adjustments that will translate into an agreement which would be signed by both the government and the organised labour.

They also noted tha the increment is nothing to write home about and will not assuage the economic needs of the workers.

But the governor, in a reaction expressed dismay that the letter which he was yet to read leaked online on Monday morning.

He said that not only will he not pay the striking workers but will also sack anyone who doesn’t report to work in the next 72 hours.

“If you didn’t go to work.Not only that I will not pay you salary. But I will replace you within 72 hours in your office.

If I didn’t see you in your office. 

“As far as I am not guilty. I am not owing you and I am paying you what is supposed to be paid. And according to agreement and constitution Iam not owing you. If you didn’t go to work within 72 hours I will replace you. 

“I have called the chairman civil service commission.I have directed all the commissioners to go to their offices.All the agencies, all the department of government must be in their office. And record the people that come to work.

“And that is the people I will pay through table payment. By the number of days you attend to your duty in your office. If you don’t want to come to work. You will forget about state government”, he said.

The governor argued that the law stipulated that the least paid worker must receive a minimum wage of N70,000.

Read Also: Nwifuru approves N75,000 minimum wage for Ebonyi workers 

He noted that the state government is not paying anyone below the stimulated amount and has gone ahead to carryout increameant for other grades of workers.

He regretted that labour leaders in the state are not telling the workers the truth about the situation but instead got them to embark on a strike despite all the welfare packages he has implement to better their conditions.

Meanwhile, workers in the state adhered to the strike called by the Leaders most government MDAs had very low turnout.

The Ochudo Secretariat and the old Government House Abakaliki all looked like a ghost town when our Correspondent visited as most workers did not turn up for work. 

NLC Chairman in the state, Ogugua Egwu said the strike recorded 90 percent compliance despite the late release of the circular on Sunday evening. Ends

Governors Francis Nwifuru has approved the payment of N75, 000 minimum wage to Civil Servants in Ebonyi State.

Nwifuru announced this shortly after a Holy Mass at Government House Chapel, Abakaliki on Sunday.

A statement by his Media Aide, Monday Uzor, quoted the Governor as saying that the decision followed careful review of the current economic situation in the country especially as it affects the workforce.

According to the Governor, the least paid Civil Servant on grade level 2 will enjoy full minimum wage of 75, 000 while from grade level 3 and above will get  incremental of N40, 000 across board.

The Governor announced that implementation of the new minimum wage would commence on Monday October 28, 2024.

Nwifuru also announced the appointment of General Managers to pilot affairs of two major Industries in the State.

Read Also: Nwifuru approves new minimum wage for Ebonyi workers

The appointees include Dr. Obinna Ezenkwa, Umuoghara Pulverization Plant and Barrister Uchenna Otuh, Ezzamgbo Pipe Production Factory.

The Governor said the appointments were made bearing in mind the expertise of the appointees which are needful to drive the Industries.

He urged them to endeavor to bring their expertise to bear in the service to the State.

Nwifuru called on stakeholders of the State to support the new General Managers to prosper the State through the Industries. 

Anxiety is mounting among members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State following Governor Francis Nwifuru’s refusal to endorse the incumbent council chairmen for a second term.

The Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) has scheduled council elections for July 20, 2024.

During a State Executive Committee Meeting of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Governor Nwifuru endorsed only two out of the 13 council chairmen for re-election.

The chairmen endorsed by the governor are Sunday Nwankwo of Ikwo and Ajah Chinonso of Ohaozara local government areas.

The governor, it was learnt, asked the remaining 11 chairmen to go back and get stakeholders’ endorsement from their respective council areas.

Following the directive, the party quickly inaugurated a zoning committee with Senator Obinna Ọgba as the chairman which began seating today.

The governor’s order has thrown the camp of the chairmen into a state of anxiety, The Nation gathered, as some of them are said not to be on good terms with key stakeholders in their areas.

It was gathered that some of them have been running from pillar to post trying to pacify the stakeholders to endorse them.

Chairmen of Edda, Chima Ekumankama, and Onicha, Chidiebere Agwu got endorsements from their stakeholders and have thus proceeded to purchase their forms.

Read Also: ‘Nwifuru didn’t reject PDP, APGA opponents’

Ivo Chairman, Emmanuel Ajah told Journalist on Wednesday that he has also secured the endorsement of the majority of the stakeholders in his area.

He stated this at the party’s secretariat on Wednesday after he procured the nomination and expression of interest forms from the party.

He promised to ensure adequate security and peace in the border Council area which is a gateway to Enugu and Abia states.

Agwu on his part, promised to spread more democracy dividends to all communities in the council.

The Ebonyi state government on Saturday, January 20, refuted a media report claiming that Governor Francis Nwifuru had vowed not to include his main challengers from the 2023 general election in his government for dragging him to courts.

Some media outlets quoted the governor as stating that the duo of Chukwuma Odii of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Professor Bernard Odoh of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were not needed in his administration.

The reports stirred controversy, prompting various reactions, including a group issuing a 48-hour ultimatum for the governor to retract the statement.

However, the state government said the governor was misquoted describing it as ill-intended, false and myopic.

The state commissioner for information and state orientation, Jude Okpor stated in Abakaliki, the state capital that the governor’s statement was quoted out of context.

He said: “The government of Ebonyi State has noted with utter dismay reactions in some quarters emanating from some distorted reports from some sections of the media over His Excellency, Rt Hon Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s statement while addressing stakeholders on 14th January 2024 concerning his ultimate electoral victory at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“It is quite unfortunate that the well-intended and articulate address of the Governor was mischievously lifted in part and quoted out of context by such media representatives in the state for some clandestine reasons, best known to them.

“The report published in some media outlets had it that the Governor avowed his determination not to forgive, accommodate or work with his election challengers in court: Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii of the PDP and Bernard Ifeanyichukwu Odoh of APGA, and their supporters, is, to say the least, false, myopic and ill-intended”

“For the purpose of straightening the records, the Governor on that day, in his usual forthrightness and plainness of heart, simply narrated the tortuous and unpleasant experiences he had in the course of following the avoidable litigations from the tribunal, through the Appeal to the Supreme Court where it was finally nailed in his favour.”

Okpor noted that the governor being a man of integrity whose words are bankable simply expected his opponents to respect their words as well by ceasing further litigations as promised after meetings with them.

According to him, the governor at the meeting merely expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that one of them reneged on his words by serving him a suit notice a day after their meeting.

He said the governor considers the action as contradictory to his eternalised values of integrity and reliability.

The commissioner said the governor regretted the unwarranted prolonged litigations brought to the government and people of the state, and wished it never happened so.

He noted: “Governor Nwifuru in his statement, did not in any way condemn his opponents for seeking redress according to their conscience in courts of competent jurisdiction.

“Recall that the Governor, being a professing and practical democrat, after winning at the polls, immediately reached out to his opponents with the olive branch which was unfortunately rebuffed.

“The Governor, not relenting, for the good and unity of the state, still approached them individually to sheath their swords but they were still recalcitrant.

Read Also: Supreme Court: Nwifuru hails judgment, promises more dividends of democracy

“Their going to court, though a huge miscalculation on their part, was considered by the Governor as the best approach which has eventually brought to rest all the divergent interests, paving the way for a possible corporate action by all and sundry towards the development and continued oneness of the state.

“Governor Nwifuru, in his statement during the meeting, merely expressed ordinary human sentiment that going by the level of deceit and seemingly irreconcilable stance of the PDP and the APGA candidates prior to the Supreme Court ruling, it would ordinarily have become very difficult to freely work with them.

“However, since the interest of the state is paramount to any individual’s interest, such a feeling could not be allowed to fertilize.

“The Governor’s camaraderie spirit and positive disposition in embracing all Ebonyians, including his opponents in the election was summarily emphasized by his last statement at the meeting. So, sincerely, I tender an apology on their behalf, for us as a state to forgive them. We should forgive them for they knew not what they were doing, and I am sure we are going to forgive them in Jesus’ name.”

Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru of Ebonyi State says his administration is now more focused on delivering dividends of democracy to the people.

The governor, who was reacting to the judgment of the Supreme Court which upheld his election, said equity, justice, and fairness have prevailed 

He said: “Today is a historic day in our dear State. It is a day when light overtook darkness, it is a day we are victorious over the Supreme Court Judgement that finally upheld the populist mandate freely given to us by you.

“The judgment which was delivered by the erudite judges has finally nailed the protracted legal battle challenging the sincerity of purpose, courage of conviction, equity, fairness, and justice —the fulcrum that our coming to power hinged.

“It is a win for all of us who vehemently opposed the mercantilist politics that nearly serrated our shared vision as a people. And so, I congratulate you. 

“The People’s Charter of Needs which integrates the urgent needs of our people would have been truncated if not for your fervency in supplications to God Almighty for the judiciary to defend democratic ethos.”

The Governor said the judgment calls for not only jubilation but celebration because it has brought an attempt to truncate the wishes of the people.

Read Also: BREAKING: Supreme Court okays APC’s Nwifuru’s election as Ebonyi governor

He said: “As we have survived their legal onslaughts, we are now more than conquerors, with a renewed verve to deliver the mandate you freely gave.”

“We are convinced that never again shall division against our shared norms and common ancestry rear its ugly head.”

He commended the nation’s judiciary for its sincerity and unbiased stance in the dispensation of justice and also the All Progressive Congress, and his campaign council the Divine Mandate Campaign Organization, for galvanizing support that led to his victory at the polls. 

Governor Nwifuru however assured that he will remain magnanimous in his resolve to carry everybody along irrespective of Party affiliations and enjoined his opponents to join hands with him in his administration’s drive to build a more virile state.

Ebonyi state government on Friday, January 12, commended the judiciary for affirming Governor Francis Nwifuru as governor of the state.

Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Chikadibia Okpor stated this in a statement.

He was reacting to a judgement by the Apex Court which threw out cases by the opposition parties against Mr Nwifuru’s election. 

Okpor said the state received with satisfaction the cheering news of the governor’s victory at the Supreme Court. 

He said: “Like a journey of a thousand miles, today’s verdict by the nation’s Apex Court has summarily laid to rest all agitations, questions and possible objections occasioned by litigations from the opposition figures, arising from the March 2023 Governorship Elections.

“We are not only satisfied that the judiciary practically demonstrated her impartial status, but impressed to note that she availed the complainants unimpeded access to the  justice they sought through the processes, which today culminated into clear victory for the generality of Ebonyi people as earlier demonstrated through the ballot box”, he said

The Commissioner noted that the collective wish of Ebonyi people has through the judicial position prevailed, and will no doubt stand as a reference point in years to come.

He said that the government of Governor Francis Nwifuru has not only shown readiness to accommodate all players towards achieving the noble dreams of Ebonyi founding fathers, but led in the practical disposition to mend possible fences with aggrieved persons for the good of Ebonyi People. 

Read Also: BREAKING: Supreme Court okays APC’s Nwifuru’s election as Ebonyi governor

“We therefore wish to congratulate our brothers for exhausting all available channels towards ventilating their legitimate interests and urge them to get along in the onerous assignment of taking our dear State to its desired destination”.

“Like we had always maintained through the judicial processes; The Supreme Court decision today is victory for all who repose their confidence on Rt. Hon. Francis Ogboona Nwifuru, believing in what he can achieve for the State and humanity as Governor.

“When God ordains, no man dares cast down. We congratulate His Excellency, for agreeing to become God’s vessel in touching the lives of Ebonyi people, thereby justifying the confidence reposed in him”

“The Judiciary has once again through this historic ruling proved to be the last hope of the common man, and should therefore be applauded for strengthening our Democracy.

“We must also appreciate and congratulate Ebonyi people and enjoin them to remain steadfast in their support and prayers as they await the best from their Governor, the humanitarian spartan, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogboona Nwifuru who is spurred through this declaration to do more for Ebonyi people”, he said.

Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, Stanley Emegha hailed the ruling describing it as an affirmation of the peoples popular choice at the polls.

He promised that the victory will spur the governor and the APC will continue to leave up to the expectations of the people.

He also urged the opponents of the governor and all opposition elements to close ranks with the governor to develop the state.