Following the plan by the organised labour in Cross River State to embark on a two-day warning strike over the non-implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage from Monday, the state governor Bassey Otu has appealed to organised labour to shelve the strike scheduled to commence on Monday and end on Tuesday as he would pay the N70,000 new minimum wage.
Otu made the appeal during the 5th edition of the State Solemn Assembly which took place at the U.J. Esuene Stadium during the weekend in Calabar.
Representing the state governor, deputy governor Dr. Peter Odey appealed to the workers not to strike as proposed by organized labour, stressing that the strike would have a negative impact on the government of the day.
He stressed that the state governor, Bassey Otu, has prioritized workers ‘ welfare.
“In light of this, I appeal to the leadership of organised labour, along with all affiliates of the NLC and TUC, to suspend their planned state-wide strike, and I enjoin them to support the Governor in his quest to improve the lot of our people,” Otu said.
On the progress made since the inception of the Solemn Assembly, Otu averred that he is committed to building a better Cross River for the citizens.
He called for the sustenance of citizens’ support and prayers for the administration to achieve its People First’ mantra in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu at the federal level.
Otu identified significant infrastructural improvements across the state’s three senatorial districts, including road construction and renovation, the rehabilitation of the Governor’s Office, the state library, and government lodges in Calabar, Abuja, and Lagos.
The governor pledged to enhance the health, agriculture, and education sectors to ensure the welfare of the state’s citizens.
In his remarks, the state deputy governor, Dr. Peter Odey stated that Governor Otu, has plans to pay even above the recommended N70,000 new national minimum wage.
He stressed that the administration would clear backlogs of gratuities, regularising pension payments, and implement overdue workers’ promotions.
