Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has insisted that he will not implement the new salary structure in paying workers because according to him, it gave a seven per cent increment to junior workers while senior workers got a hefty 125 per cent.
His comment came on the backdrop of a 7-day warning strike embarked upon by the workers to press home their demand for the implementation of the new salary structure.
Governor Umahi spoke at the weekend while inaugurating 15 heavy-duty trucks procured for infrastructural development.
He also acknowledged the bulletin by the organised labour calling for the strike, saying he could not have stopped them.
“I saw the bulletin circulated by the organized labour and I cannot stop them from going on strike. But I want them to know very well that we will not implement their demand, we will not do that.
“I will continue to pay them with the salary structure recommended by the Sam Egwu-led committee until the next two months when an acceptable chart will be out”, he said.
Gov. Umahi, however, expressed shock that the workers went on strike without considering the economic situation, insisting he could not use the money meant to develop the state to pay workers’ salaries alone.
