The Ebonyi Government says it stands by its decision to pay the September salaries of only workers who reported to duty during the recent strike.
In spite of complaints by affected workers across the state, the government has remained adamant on its “no work, no pay” decision.
Mr Chike Onwe, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, told newsmen on Thursday that the state government was justified in taking the decision.
“During the ill-conceived strike, Gov. Martin Elechi, as the father of the state, urged the organised labour to shelve the action and hold meaningful dialogue with government on the issue.
“Labour refused to heed the call and the governor made it clear that only workers who complied with the government’s directive by resuming work would be paid their September salaries.
“It will then be morally wrong for the government to satisfy the yearnings of those who sabotaged its efforts in developing the state at the detriment of others who showed readiness to partner with it.”
The commissioner said the government considered its integrity and the wellbeing of those who complied with the governor’s directive before taking the decision.
“If the government fails to uphold its decisions because of public sentiments, it will not be taken serious and might lose grip of the developments in the state.
“It also considered the expenses, transportation and otherwise, borne by those who complied and decided to reward them, as the others incurred no expenses that related to their official duties.”
Onwe urged citizens of the state to be patient with the Elechi administration, as history would judge whether his policies and actions were against the people’s interest.
“This administration should be seen as a radical departure from the past, as it seeks to consolidate the gains of past ones and also improve on them.
“It is predicated on two major planks — aggressive development of infrastructure and attitudinal change — aimed at inculcating in the citizens virtues of discipline, hard work and honesty, among others.”
The commissioner appealed for the cooperation of journalists in realising the government’s objectives aimed at bringing dividends of democracy to the people.
Most civil servants affected by the decision have called on the organised labour in the state to take action that would make the government to rescind its decision.
Reacting to the decision, a civil servant, Mr Celestine Chima, said that it would be unfair for labour leaders not to rise up as workers should not be made to suffer for obeying NLC’s directives.
“Most us were ready to resume work at that time but decided to obey labour’s directive in the overall interest of workers.
“We are complaining that our salaries are meagre and for the September salaries not to be paid, our families will suffer for it.”
Mr Thomas Eze, the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board was recently sacked by the government for paying the September salaries of those who observed the strike.