They wondered why the state governor, a lawyer by profession would fail to follow the laid down legal procedures in effecting any policy his administration intends to implement in the state.
Aggrieved by the death of one of the 20 Enugu State Water Corporation workers recently sacked by Governor Peter Mbah, the organised labour in the state has directed the picketing of the Corporation's headquarters on Tuesday.
The labour leaders, SaharaReporters reliably gathered, issued the picketing notice after a marathon meeting with the State Head of Service and other union leaders concerning unjustified sack without due regard to laid down rules and procedures.
According to sources, the organised labour which decried the arbitrariness and impunity of the administration in the state which negate the principles of due process, insisted that there would be no work at the corporation starting from Tuesday until the sacked workers ere recalled and the Special Personal Assistant to the Governor on Water and Waste Management, Andreas Gebauer, removed.
They wondered why the state governor, a lawyer by profession would fail to follow the laid down legal procedures in effecting any policy his administration intends to implement in the state.
"We will start to picket the Water Corporation tomorrow (Tuesday) until our demands which are - recall sacked workers and remove the SPA on Water and Waste Management causing this crisis," one of the labour leaders told SaharaReporters on telephone.
SaharaReporters had reported on Sunday that one of the sacked staff of the corporation identified as Christopher Abonyi - a level 16 officer - reportedly died of a heart attack on Sunday morning.
The paper had also reported on January 30, 2024, that Governor Mbah’s administration sacked no fewer than 20 staff members of the state water corporation for not meeting their monthly IGR target.
It also reported that the 20 workers who were issued termination letters on Monday, January 29, were between level 13 and directorship.
The letter dated January 26, 2024, is titled: "Termination of Appointment".
Sources told SaharaReporters that the affected workers were given a mandate to each generate N5 million every month, as the governor pushes to generate $30 billion in revenue monthly.
However, the governor said collectively they could generate N50 million as the minimum instead of N100 million that the N5 million per person would normally amount to.
The sack letter received by one of the affected workers who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity read: "Management has considered your performance and found it unsatisfactory and has decided to terminate your appointment on the grounds of general inefficiency and inability to meet your target.
"As a result, your appointment with ENUGU STATE WATER CORPORATION is hereby TERMINATED with immediate effect.
"You should hand over all properties, documents, and files of the Corporation in your possession to the Commercial/Admin."
The termination letter was signed by Andreas Gebauer, the Special Personal Assistant to Governor Mbah on Water and Waste Management.
A source meanwhile told SaharaReporters on Sunday that "one of the people they gave the sack letters to named Christopher Abonyi - who hails from Nsukka - died this morning from a heart attack".
The source further revealed that organised labour had given Governor Mbah a 4-day ultimatum to reverse the sacking or they would shut down the water corporation.
The organised labour reportedly lamented the unilateral termination of appointments of the affected staff members.
The source said: "The labour union went to their office on Thursday and told them to call all of the affected staff members back within four days or they will close their office.
“Also, they wrote to the Commissioner for Water Resources and Head of Service. They also wrote to the governor but the receiver told them to attach all their sack letters; that's why it has not reached the governor. Hopefully, by Monday or Tuesday, it will reach the table of Governor Peter Mbah."