Francis Sadhere

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State Chapter, has called on the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to sack his Personal Assistance on Labour and Industrial Matters, Comrade Mike Okeme, saying he no longer represents the interest of NLC in the state.

Comrade Mike Okeme, Personal Assistance to the Delta state Governor on Labour and Industrial Matters.

NLC alleged that Comrade Okeme “has constituted himself as a cog in the wheel of progress of NLC, Delta State Council by collecting from Government ten buses meant for the State NLC’s mass transit amongst others.

This call was made today in a statement made available to our correspondent and signed by Comrade Williams Akporeha, Comrade Ejiro Egbedi and Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku, NLC Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer respectively, after its State Executive Council (SEC) meeting held in Asaba.

According to the statement, congress had “observed with utter dismay and disappointment the unbecoming conduct of an erstwhile Labour leader in the state and present Special Adviser to the State Governor on Labour and Industrial Relations Matters, Comrade Mike Okeme who has constituted himself as a cog in the wheel of progress of NLC, Delta State Council by collecting from Government ten buses meant for the State NLC’s mass transit; hijacking and appropriating monies meant for the Congress; usurping the powers of SAC members; deliberately destabilizing the activities of labour in the  state; and trying to cause serious and harmful but avoidable acrimony between Labour and Government.”

The Delta state NLC also resolved that Government should not deal with Comrade Okeme on behalf of Labour but rather Government should deal directly with Labour through its State Chairman.

“Congress subsequently passed a vote of no confidence on the SA to the Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Mike Okeme and declared him a persona non grata to the State NLC. In the light of the above the Government should review the appointment of Comrade Mike Okeme,” the statement reads.

The statement further said that in his bid to personally run the NLC from his office as Special Adviser to the Governor, Okeme had insisted to personally operate the 10 buses donated by the state government in 2012 for workers mass transit in the state as palliatives for partial fuel subsidy removal, noting that Okeme only succeeded in operating those buses within his office at the detriment of workers for which they were meant.

“Congress has used every available opportunity to urge him to refrain from seeking this unnecessary luxury of grandstanding on activities of labour movement in the state to no avail. No doubt, Congress respects individual’s right to seek or sponsor ambitions but would resist all attempts to polarize Labour movement as such ambitions can only be realized in an atmosphere of industrial harmony in the state,” the statement added.

According to the statement; “Congress unanimously resolves that henceforth, it ceases to recognize and deal with Comrade Mike Okeme as the Special Adviser, Labour and Industrial Relations Matters to the Delta State Governor. For the avoidance of doubt, Congress hereby notifies Government that letters from Congress to Government and Government to Congress shall only be routed through the office of the Secretary to the State Government as it was the process before now.”

It therefore, advised all Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA’s) to take note as Congress shall no longer honour, acknowledge or be involved in meetings, correspondences and engagements with Mike Okeme as Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Industrial Relations Matters.

It also called on Governor Uduaghan to immediately take note and review the appointment of Mike Okeme as Special Adviser, Labour and Industrial Relations Matters to avoid industrial disharmony in the State.

The State NLC, however, commended Governor Uduaghan’s continuous and pragmatic efforts towards enhancing the welfare of the state workforce so far, particularly his prompt payment of worker’s salaries.

“Congress hereby pledges its continuous complete and unreserved support to the existing partnership between government and labour for mutual benefit and the overall growth of human resource development in the state. Congress is specifically grateful to His Excellency on the historic approval of the payment of end of year 13^th month salary for workers in the state,” says the statement.

Labour also resolved that it holds the leadership of the state NLC in high esteem and consequently restates its unwavering confidence, loyalty and support for the present State Executive Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress as led by Comrade Williams Akporeha.