Uduaghan Absent At Workers' Day Celebrations
Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta state governor, shunned the May 1 workers celebration held in Asaba amid the crisis within the state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
According to The Nation, the governor's absence was connected with the alleged threat by Comrade Willie Akporeha, factional chairman of NLC, to send thugs from the East to disrupt the event.
A source narrated that state security officials informed Uduaghan about the security threat. Apparently, this was the reason for heavy presence of operatives at the strategic locations in the state capital and around the rally venue.
Vanguard adds that Governor Uduaghan last Thursday summoned the two factions for a meeting as he tried to resolve the crisis rocking the party. The attempt was said to have yielded no positive results.
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The governor, represented at the event by his special adviser on labour relations Comrade Mike Okeme, congratulated the workers saying that the outgoing administration was not owing them. The claim generated many negative reactions by the people present.
He vowed to pay all the salaries to all the local government workers before the power transition.
Comrade David Ofoeyeno, the chairman of the state NLC, on his part urged the governor to find lasting solutions to the challenges experienced by the workers across the state. He enumerated challenges of pensioners, local government employees, shortage of nurses, so as slow pace of work at the construction of permanent secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
"We strongly appeal to the governor to expedite action on the building of the Delta NUJ Press Centre as promised by his administration. We are worried that progress of work on the laudable project has been slated and urge the governor to release funds for the early completion, as a befitting gift to journalists in the state."
The Federal Government declared May 1 public holiday for Nigerians to mark the International Workers’ Day.
Source: Legit.ng
