By Femi Anamelechi
Governance is demonstrative, responsive and impacts all facets of human development, this hallmarks are reasons Organised Labour in Anambra State has honoured Governor Charles Soludo with the “Workers’ Beacon of Hope” Award. According to the union, the award is in recognition of his bold and transformative reforms, which have significantly improved workers’ welfare in Anambra.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. In recent time the hard works of the SOLUDO administration has become a benchmark for effective and purposeful government, little wonder the recognition cited was infrastructural and transformational initiatives in vital sectors of the state’s economic transformational landmarks, vision driven trajectory that has turned Anambra State to a destination for investment, where economic and business activities now thrive.
Soludo in just three years has made the state a homeland where the people can live, enjoy, and play. Speaking Izuchukwu Adichie, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media pointed out “that while other states struggle with unpaid salaries and pensions, often taking loans to pay partial salaries and facing stalled negotiations, Soludo’s administration has cleared inherited arrears and implemented 10% increased salaries for all levels of state workers and pensioners.”
According to him, 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 in view of 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. Organized Labour Anambra chapter also enumerated Gov. Soludo’s visionary leadership and significant efforts which has transformed 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.”
The greatest groundbreaking shift is Soludo’s dynamic “Productivity First” approach. This mantra labour leaders observed rather than creating an adversarial epistle the government has trained workers in information communication technology (ICT) skills through the state ICT Agency and provided laptops to enhance productivity. These achievements recorded in region where kidnappings and insecurity have disrupted livelihoods. Soludo’s security architecture and measures to secure environment has earned Praises from workers, traders, and residents within and diaspora
