Dan Opara
The National leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, was on Thursday, April 25th 2019 in successfully concluded the 12th Quadrennial State Delegates Conference Election of the Imo State Chapter of the Union, as the exercise returned all the members of the State Administrative Council unopposed, with the theme:” Towards a decade of activism for the promotion of labour unity, national rebirth, and development”.
Those who were returned opposed include: “the Imo NLC State Chairman, Comr. Austin Chilakpu, Comr.Philip Nwansi, as the State Vice Chairman, Comr.George Ofoegbo, as the State Vice Chairman, Comr.Livinus Nwaiwu, as the State Vice Chairman Administration, and Comr. Ken Onwuemeodo, as the State Secretary, others are Comr. Francis Ezenwata, as the State Treasurer, Comr. Richard Eze, as the State Internal Auditor, Comr.Uche Nwaigwe, as the State Internal Auditor, whereas Comr. Mrs. tella Achunine, as State Ex-Officio, Comr. Paul Nwankwo, as the Ex-Officio, Comr. Victor Atumonye, as the State Assistant Secretary, more others are Comr. Romanus Nduka, as State Trustees Comr. Kenneth Alok, as the State PRO and Comr. Okebaram Izuchukwu, aka Bora, as State Mobilization Officer”.
Speaking, the Returning Officer, Hon. Comr. John Adaji, who also represented the NLC National Chairman, Hon.Comr.Ayuba Waba expressed delight for the successful re-election process of the members of the State Admin. Council of Imo NLC who were generally returned unopposed by all the duly accredited and registered members of the delegates, even as he thanked Imo NLC members at the election venue for their peaceful coordination.
He, therefore, charged them (those re-elected) to duties and told them not to disappoint the workers of Imo State.
Comr.Adaji described the exercise as the freest, fair, credible and transparent polls conducted in the history of NLC.
He also described the outcome of the whole exercise held in Owerri as a fulfillment of the NLC leadership and electoral mandate.
Adaji promised to ensure that the N30,000 minimum wage as approved by the Federal Govt.shall be implemented.
In his acceptance speech, the newly re-elected Imo NLC State Chairman, Comr. Austin Chilakpu, expressed satisfaction for his return as the State Chairman for the next 4 years, even as he promised to continue from where he stopped in the last 4 years.
Comr.Chilakpu, therefore, appealed to all who indicated interest for various positions especially the chairmanship post but did not succeed to join him towards the improvement, unity, upliftment, and development of NLC in Imo State.
The NLC State Chairman, Comr.Austin, more assured that his leadership shall ensure that the non-payment of pensions and gratuities, workers salaries and their welfare would be upheld.
He furthermore disclosed that his govt.shall fight for the general interest of Imo workers, even as he boasted that his past govt.restated and restored the sacked Imo workers by the unhealthy led administration of the outgoing Imo Govt. Governor Rochas Okorocha.
He said, ” the N30,000 minimum wage must be implemented in Imo both in the public sectors and in the private sectors”.
Chilakpu congratulated all Imo workers for making the right choices through his reelection.
“God Almighty must bless you”, prayed.
Adding his voice, Comr.Okebaram Izuchukwu, aka De-Bora,expressed great joy to be part of the Imo NLC leadership as a State Mobilization Officer.
“We at the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURWT, Imo State Chapter are willing, ready and poised to ensure the growth and unity of the Imo NLC from the national level,we have embraced the leadership of the NLC and with my coordination, Imolites especially workers would not be left out in the promotion of the general welfare of the people”,Comr. Bora stated.
Meanwhile, earlier, a very strong contestant for the position of Imo NLC Chairmanship, Comr.Barr.Sir.Solo Osuji,who belonged to the Nigerian Union of Pensioner,NUP,Imo State Chapter,who was also delegated lamented that he was forcefully ejected from the hall by the instruction and order of his rival, Comr Chilakpu, whom he allegedly accused to have been supported by the security personals who requested that he was not delegate.
“As a registered member of Imo NUP, and a delegate, I should be allowed, I have the right to vote and to be voted for. I am qualified to contest, I was duly screened to participate fully in the exercise, but I was not allowed. I am heading to the court to seek redress and reclaim my stolen mandate by Comr. Chilakpu and the members of the Electoral Committee. We have 10 delegates instead of the supposed 12 delegates from NUP. I am supposed to contest as a delegate”, Comr. Osuji submitted.
