The organized Labour movement in Enugu State on Wednesday back-tracked in its earlier statement, where the workers had threatened a showdown with the government for purchasing Prado Jeeps for members of the State House of Assembly and some other government officials.

The cars, valued at N12m, had been generated reactions from the state workers.

However, speaking at a press briefing, the Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, Comrade Chukwuma Igbokwe said the workers had been properly briefed on the true situation.

While commending Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for having a listening ear, Igbokwe said the press briefing was an aftermath of a meeting between the Governor and the labour leaders.

He said, “we met with his Excellency and he gave us the true situation, we reconcilled issues; let me commend his Excellency’s mode of operation; each time there are some issues, he will always clear the air.

“There is information his Excellency gave us about the jeep and which we discussed, its not the issue of buying, what we said is that vehicles were given out free, but now we know the true situation; when you are in a family, there are times there are misconceptions, the important thing is that at the end of the day, everybody is happy.”

He added that the Governor had opened up channels of discussions through which arrears of pensions and other entitlements being owed workers would be sorted out.
Also speaking, the information commissioner in the State, Hon. Godwin Udeuhele said the vehicles were not free, but that they would be returned to the government at the end of their tenure.

“There were insinuations that the Governor gave out jeep to House of Assembly members, and other govt officials; after discussion, the labour came to know that no vehicle was given out free of charge; its a pool of vehicles, at the expiration of their tenure, those vehicles become property of government.

“In the strength of that, you people, the media should always cross check your facts before going to the press; if you had done that this would not have happened;  Labour is very friendly with government, we have held meeting with them, its a friendly affair.”

In a comment, leader of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu said no lawmaker received free vehicle from government, stressing that the cars were dully allocated to them.