Delta NLC Election: Re-elected Chairman Calls for Collaboration Between Government, Labour, Employers

Newly re-elected Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State Chapter, Comrade Williams Akporeha has called for collaboration between Government, Labour and Employers, saying that successful economies in the world were driven by such collaboration.

Comrade Akporeha made this call today at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun near Warri while giving his acceptance speech after he was re-elected as the new Chairman of NLC, Delta State Chapter during the state council conference/election.

Those also elected include; Emeka Nwoala (Vice Chairman), Nwokafor Kingsley (2n Vice Chairman), Taiwo Onovwiona (Treasurer), Izebhokhae Sylvester (Auditor 1), Gideon Akpowomano (Auditor 11), Wilson Kakaede (Ex-Officio), and Obanovwe Geofrey (Ex-Officio).

The NLC Chairman urged the incoming government in the state not to over bloat government in its attempts of give people jobs, stressing that there was need for government to grow businesses through the implementation of a deliberate Public Private Sector policy.

Comrade Akporeha assured the next Government that a mutual partnership with Congress will go a long way in assisting businesses to start, grow and succeed in Delta state.

He said: “I strongly believe that successful economies in the world are driven by collaboration between labour, government and employers. I will therefore not hesitate to urge the incoming government that even though we need jobs, we won’t get jobs by over bloating the government, we need to grow businesses through the implementation of a deliberate Public Private Sector policy. Government can be rest assured that a mutual partnership with Congress will go a long way in assisting businesses to start, grow and succeed in Delta state.”

While saying that Congress believed in the spirit of advancing economic progress to create jobs and social justice for workers, Comrade Akporeha stressed that “government and workers must learn that successful progress depends not on quick fixes or taking the easy option but on having the strength to take the long term course and see it through.”

The NLC Chairman used the opportunity to congratulate the Governor- elect of the state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, and his Deputy, Kingsley Otuaro, and also reminded them that progressive partnership with labour is one of the pillars of a productive government.

Speaking to our correspondent, Comrade Apkoreha said with the new governments in place, it is no longer going to be business as usual.

On a parallel elections taking place in Asaba and Warri simultaneously, the Comrade Akporeha said all challenges faced by labour will be resolved soon, noting that workers welfare is

paramount irrespective of any challenges Congress may be facing.

Comrade Akporeha reminded all that leadership of Congress is about moral strength to be in the struggle to secure and bequeath work as well as acceptable work conditions now and the future, promising that Congress shall confront every obstacle or vested interest that will deter it from achieving its goals.

Earlier, the NLC President, Joe .C. Ajaero urged Nigerian workers to stand strong and steadfast as true and committed Comrades to redeem their movement and restore the lost glory of NLC in the country.

Comrade Ajaero who was represented by Comrade Benson Okorodudu, who also doubles as returning officer, took a swipe at the leadership of Comrade Abdul Waheed Omar, describing Omar’s leadership as fraudulent and pervasive, adding that NLC Leadership under Omar failed not only on core labour/workers issues but also lost its basic moral compass completely as manifested in the case of KRISTON LALLY Housing scam in which over Three Billion Naira mopped up from hapless working and retired citizens of Nigeria was unaccounted for, leaving the subscribers disillusioned and utterly frustrated.

Ajaero also blamed failure of the Conference of February 11 and the reconvened one of March 12, 2015 on Comrade Omar’s deliberate manipulation to “impose a particular candidate on the Nigeria Labour Congress in the face of glaring leadership failure, moral decadence and crude violation of union principles, rules and constitution.”

He therefore urged the state councils and it members across the country not to be disillusioned or continue to lament about failed leadership and failed conference but to stand up collectively to retrieve NLC from the “jackals” and restore the cherished traditions and core values of the labour movement.

He said: “I therefore urge all state councils and all our members across the States to remain focused and committed to the lofty but attainable goal of restoring and reclaiming all lost grounds.  The labour movement should and must be responsive to the yearnings and aspirations of not only members/affiliates but must always be ready to provide alternative socio-political and economic policy framework that will help to galvanize increased productivity and shared prosperity for the mass of our people.

“Further, I urge you to reaffirm commitment to defending the rights of workers to freedom of association and collective bargaining as enshrined in our constitution and labour laws and explicitly supported by ILO conventions 87 and 98.

“On our part we pledge to assert the right of the workers to join the union and ensure that no employer obstructs and deny Nigerian workers their inalienable rights and you must do everything to uphold the principled stand of the NLC in your engagement at the state level.”