2019: Abia NLC chairman urges workers to obtain their voter cards

Thu, Jul 5, 2018 | By publisher


Politics

UCHENNA Obigwe, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abia chapter, has appealed to workers to obtain their Permanent Voter cards (PVCs), ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Obigwe who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Thursday in Awka, said the card was the only instrument for voting in credible candidates.

Obigwe who is in Awka to attend the South-East zonal workshop organised by     the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, said all affiliate unions of NLC in Abia would be directed to ensure compliance.

He said that findings by NLC showed that Nigeria workers constitute high percentage of voters.

Obigwe said that “NLC wants to use its political strength to make a mark in 2019 polls.’’

Obigwe who gave example with the 2017 governorship election in Anambra, where he claimed that civil and public servants made significant impact for the re-election of Gov. Willie Obiano, said workers in other states could replicate such feat.

The Abia NLC chairman who scored labour-government relationship in his state above average, noted that there were grey areas that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, should act swiftly to ensure more enduring relationship with workers.

“The state government is relatively doing well in the payment of salaries in the ministry, but where we have problem is salary payment to workers in the parastatals, secondary school system, local government areas and payment of pensions.

“And we have often advised the governor to step up action in the area of `stomach infrastructure’ development for workers, especially those that are owed some arrears of salaries’’, he said.

Obigwe maintained that Gov. Ikpeazu had done well in the provision of physical infrastructure, but argued that the people must have their pay to be alive and make use of the infrastructure provided.

He said that the major challenge faced by NLC in Abia was payment of arrears of salaries owed workers.

Obigwe said that clearing the arrears before election would be the only guarantee for the political class to enjoy workers’ support during the 2019 elections.

“There are some workers that are owed six months to eight months salary arrears, while pensioners are owed more than one year pension arrears,’’ he said.

Obigwe urged Abia workers to be optimistic that Gov. Ikpeazu would clear all salary arrears owed workers and pensioners before the end of the year. (NAN)

– Jul. 5, 2018 @ 15:29 GMT |

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