Mother Theresa once said that ‘not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love’. According to Gordon Hinckley, the happiest people are those who lose themselves in the service of others. Chief Willie Obiano is a governor who is ever desirous to make the people he governs happy; hence, he renders selfless services. Akpokuedike speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Thus far, Dr Obiano has left no one in doubt that he places very high premium on the wellbeing of the citizenry. Good life, security and happiness of Ndi Anambra mean a lot to him, hence his emphasis on the protection of their lives and property. Obiano, as a focused leader, does not play to the gallery. This explains why, against all odds, he remains an outstanding achiever.

Workers, globally, are the engine room of every society. They constitute about seven per cent of the population of every country, state or local government. This infinitesimal percentage does not in any way dwarf their influential capabilities towards policy formulation and national development.

Happily, the multiple award-winning worker-friendly Governor Obiano, soon after his inauguration on March 17, 2014, keyed into this concept by recognizing the imperative of a motivated workforce. This, he proved, by increasing workers’ salaries by fifteen percent in 2015. Subsequently, he increased workers’ salaries severally

In addition, his administration formulated a policy of ensuring that on or before the twenty-fifth of every month, workers and pensioners smile to the banks to receive their salaries. This feat has made workers nickname him an “alert governor”. By so doing, the reputation and integrity of Anambra workers has improved. They can plan well ahead now. Their steady salaries can serve as collateral in any financial institution, giving them leeway to borrow for meaningful self-development.

Also, for seven years now, workers and pensioners in the state are given a bag of Anambra rice every December. No other state government in the federation has achieved this feat. In Anambra, promotion is no longer a privilege but an entitlement.

Notably, the Obiano administration is the first ever in the state to procure mass transit buses to convey workers and other low income earners to and from major towns in the three senatorial districts of the state. These buses charge affordable fares on commuters as the state government subsidizes their transport fares. To further demonstrate his penchant for motivation, the governor inaugurated a 10-man committee to study the issues concerning the welfare of workers in the state.

It is against this backdrop that the state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC and other labour leaders, conferred the honour of the “Most Workers Friendly Governor in Nigeria” on Akpokuedike. Similarly, the Presidency and the House of Representatives honoured Governor Obiano as the foremost champion of workers’ welfare in Nigeria.

Sometime ago, the governor approved to schedule the Anambra Broadcasting Service and the Anambra Newspapers and Printing Corporation Staff into the Pension Scheme as well as to liquidate their arrears of gratuities and pensions owed to their retired staff. He equally approved the staff promotion of over twelve years of the workers in ABS.

The irony of this rare show of commitment of the governor to the workers in the state is that some states still owe their workforce some months of arrears of salaries. While some state governments in the federation are involved in one faceoff or the other with the labour unions in their states, the labour unions in Anambra State maintain a high level of cordiality with the Obiano administration.

The Obiano administration has indeed extended its hands of fellowship to workers in the state. All that is required now is for workers to reciprocate the gesture by being more alive to their statutory responsibilities.

DR NNAMDI NWADIOGBU

No related posts.