The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised concerns over the growing trend of state governors spending most of their time in Abuja while their states grapple with economic hardship.
During a town hall meeting with workers at the NLC Secretariat in Lokoja, Kogi State, NLC President Joe Ajaero lamented that many governors are absent from their states, making governance ineffective and disconnecting them from the realities of the people they were elected to serve.
The NLC leadership was in Kogi to commission 10 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses meant to ease transportation challenges for workers.
The meeting was also an avenue for workers to voice their grievances, which the NLC promised to escalate to the state governor.
Ajaero noted that during visits to five different zones, only one governor was available to engage with the union.
He said, “However, there is a problem we are having in trends because most governors are now living permanently in Abuja. We have moved to about five zones, Kogi is about the fifth zone. We have met governors in only one state. Each time you go there, they are in Abuja and this is affecting governance.”
He emphasized the need for governors to balance their attention between federal and state affairs, ensuring that the people feel the presence of government.
The NLC President added, “I think we should be able to manage the center and the units, so people will have the feeling of democracy, the dividend of democracy, so that people can talk to their leaders.”
Ajaero pointed out that Kogi State is of particular interest to the NLC because both the governor, Usman Ododo, and his deputy have roots in trade unionism. “To us, it is like homecoming. We want to come and interact with them to find out whether they are doing those things we are criticising others for.”
NLC Rejects Proscription of Unions in Kogi’s Tertiary Institutions
The NLC President also condemned the proscription of labour unions in state-owned tertiary institutions under the administration of former Governor Yahaya Bello.
He stated that such an action was unconstitutional, as labour unions fall under the Exclusive Legislative List, making them a federal matter.
Ajaero asserted, “Let me say here, union practice falls under the Exclusive Legislative List in the Constitution. No governor has powers to ban them, you don’t ban what you don’t have control over. Unions are registered nationally by the registrar of trade unions. For administrative convenience, they may choose to have branches in states, so what are you now banning?”
Workers at the meeting lamented that for over a decade, institutions such as Kogi State Polytechnic, Kogi State University, and the State Colleges of Education, Technology, and Nursing had been unable to operate their unions due to the proscription order.
Additionally, the workers raised other pressing issues, including the non-implementation of annual salary increments, lack of housing for workers, and a severe shortage of teachers in primary and junior secondary schools.
The NLC pledged to escalate these concerns, reinforcing its commitment to fighting for the welfare of Nigerian workers amid economic difficulties.