Omos Oyinobde, Asaba
The Progressive Group for Change, a faction of the Delta State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday, swept the polls defeating the opposition group to
emerge overall winner of the keenly contested Delta State 2015 Congress of the NLC.
David Ofoeyeno, President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), emerged Chairman-Elect of the NLC, polling 763 votes defeating Goodluck Ofobruku of the
Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), who polled 655 votes in the election.
Other members who emerged victorious in the election are Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Delta State, Comrade Jonathan Jemirieyigbe as Ist Vice Chairman, he polled 762 to defeat Emeni Fidel who scored 594, while Oyawiri Johnson emerged 2nd Vice Chairman with 733 votes to defeat Iyeke with 610 votes.
Also, Monday Okocha, State Chairman of AAEUN, scored 751 to defeat Ejiro Egbedi who polled 661 while Tony Toki, State Chairman of Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) scored 760 to defeat Omars to emerge Ist Auditor of the NLC and Joseph Kosin, defeated Mc Cartney with 738 votes to emerge State Auditor 11.
Other members who were elected as Ex-Officio members include Blessing Onikoyi and Anthony Nnamdi Igwebuike.
Delivering his acceptance speech, Ofoeyeno, who was voted for in absential, said he would run an all inclusive Nigeria Labour Congress which would see to the welfare of all members irrespective of members unions and affiliates.
Prior to the election, National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, had enjoined all members to contribute to the building of the nation’s nascent democracy in their various work environments.
Ayuba, who was represented by one of the national executive members, Uchenna Ekwe, called on the newly elected state executive of the NLC to men of impeachable character who should priority to the welfare of workers in the state.
He also called on the NLC to maintain a high level of independence as trade unions and carry on their activities in a way that will protect the members and take decisions based on advice from members not from government officials.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Industrial Relations, Mike Okeme, who was represented by a Director in the establishment, commended the conduct of workers in the state.
He said labour and government must work together for the state to achieve maximum
success, noting that the role of labour cannot be traded off in the government’s drive to achieve a worth while goal.
