NLC blasts Abia Gov over union interference

In a scorching rebuke that shook the foundations of the labor landscape, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) launched an explosive critique against the Abia State Government’s audacious meddling in the leadership fabric of the State Council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The storm ignited when Mr. Joe Ajaero, the President of NLC, unleashed a blistering condemnation in a letter bearing the weight of their outrage. The missive, addressed with unrelenting determination to Gov. Alex Otti, reverberated through the corridors of power in Abuja.

Ajaero’s words cut like a blade as he revealed that the Congress stood aghast at a letter dated June 20, penned by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, aimed squarely at the NURTW, their staunch affiliate.

A firestorm of controversy erupted as it emerged that the State Government, through the audacious pen of the Secretary, had boldly suggested a roster of candidates for key positions within the state council. The explosive revelation exposed the government’s heavy-handed interference, sending shockwaves through the labor community.

Among the names in the government’s daring list were Mr. Chukwuma Anazodo for the coveted Chairman’s seat, Mr. Chika Arthur as Deputy Chairman, and Mr. Tochi Ephraim as Treasurer. The government’s audacity knew no bounds, listing Mr. Azubuike Victor as Financial Secretary, Anyanwu Ogaraku as Organising Secretary, and Ogbuagu Ukadike as a mere member.

In a sensational twist that defied belief, Ajaero proclaimed, “Our first reaction to the letter when it was reported to us by the union was that it was a phony. We could not imagine that a government, elected under the banner of Labour Party, could have written such a letter.” The Labor Party’s banner, which should stand for the workers’ rights, seemed to have been sullied in this shocking saga.

Ajaero invoked Article 3 of Convention 87 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a sanctified scripture in the world of labor rights. With fervor, he reminded all that this article upheld the sacrosanct principle that workers’ organizations should wield the freedom to chart their destiny, to elect their representatives in autonomy, and to formulate their programs untainted by external influence.

The searing indictment reached a crescendo as Ajaero bellowed, “It is therefore important to point out to Your Excellency (Otiti) that ILO Convention 87 is a fundamental convention which is globally considered sacred and inviolable.” The state’s audacious bid to wrest control of NURTW’s destiny was denounced as “rash, ill-informed, and illegal.”

In a thundering crescendo, Ajaero demanded a retraction of the State Government’s missive, an unequivocal commitment to non-interference in trade unions, and a call to employ civil discourse to address any grievances. The labor community awaited Gov. Alex Otti’s response with bated breath, the echoes of this seismic confrontation reverberating far beyond the borders of Abia State.