Organised labour praises Soludo, names him number one for workers’ welfare

Stanley Ihedigbo

Organized Labour in Anambra State has honoured Governor Charles Soludo with the prestigious “Workers’ Beacon of Hope” Award, recognizing his transformative reforms and commitment to improving workers’ welfare.

The award acknowledges Soludo’s visionary leadership and efforts to make Anambra a hub for economic and infrastructure excellence.

The Labour leaders, while presenting the award, emphasised Soludo’s willingness to listen, his empathy, dedication, and unwavering support for workers as a demonstration of his incredible leadership, which is lacking in other states.

Also, recognition was attained for the infrastructural and transformational initiatives in vital sectors of the state’s economy, by making it a destination for investment, where economic and business activities now thrive, and a homeland where the people can live, enjoy, and play.

According to Izuchukwu Adichie, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, while other states struggle with unpaid salaries and pensions, often taking loans to pay partial salaries and facing stalled negotiations, Soludo’s administration he said, has cleared inherited arrears and implemented 10% increased salaries for all levels of state workers and pensioners.

“Soludo has also implemented one of the most worker-friendly wage structures in the Southeast, as he graciously approved N82,000, the highest in the Southeast, exceeding the N70,000 national benchmark given his implementation of the minimum wage structure announced in 2024”.

The organised labour leaders remarked that it is the first time a minimum wage has been fully implemented in Anambra State.

Leaders from the Organized Labour Anambra chapter highlighted Soludo’s visionary leadership and significant efforts to transform Anambra into a centre of economic and infrastructure excellence.

According to the Labour leaders,” While pension arrears have become a persistent issue in many states, in Anambra, the four-year arrears have been systematically cleared under Soludo’s government. Retirees who once lost hope and staged protests now receive their dues promptly, along with a non-taxable cash award of N10,000 to supplement their pensions”.

Perhaps the most groundbreaking shift is Soludo’s “Productivity First” approach. Rather than creating an adversarial dynamic, his government has trained workers in information communication technology (ICT) skills through the state ICT Agency and provided laptops to enhance productivity.

In an era where kidnappings and insecurity have disrupted livelihoods, Soludo’s security measures have earned praise from workers, traders, and residents alike.