GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO WORKERS’ WELFARE AS HE HOSTS NLC PRESIDENT COMRADE JOE AJERO

…Approves land for NLC Secretariat, pledges operational vehicle and directs investigation into 10% check-off dues issue

The Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to prioritizing the welfare of workers and the general wellbeing of the people of Abia State.

Governor Otti made this known on Wednesday, October 15th, in his office when he received a delegation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by its National President, Comrade Joe Ajero.

Reaffirming his administration’s labour-friendly stance, Governor Otti emphasized that government exists primarily to serve the welfare of the people, particularly workers who drive the machinery of governance.

“And for us, our relationship with Labour has been very cordial, and we all work for the same purpose.

Because at the end of the day, Government is about the welfare of the people. And who are the people? The people who work.

“You may also have heard that not too long ago, precisely by the 22nd of last month, 5,394 new teachers were recruited and deployed to our schools.

“Interestingly, the minimum wage for teachers is higher than the ordinary minimum wage. As we speak, we are hiring about 771 medical professionals to deploy to our hospitals,” Gov. Otti stated.

He further disclosed that his administration is currently defraying 16 years of unpaid death benefits to the next of kin of deceased Abia workers, a burden inherited from previous administrations. He also noted that arrears of pensions owed to retirees have already been cleared as part of his government’s people-centered reforms.

On the request by the NLC leadership for a befitting State Secretariat, Governor Otti approved a parcel of land for the project and assured that his administration would support the construction of the edifice. He also promised to provide an operational vehicle for the NLC in the State to enhance their mobility and efficiency.

In a bid to strengthen accountability within the labour system, Governor Otti directed his Special Assistant on Labour Relations, Comrade Godson Anucha, and the State NLC Chairman, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, to investigate and resolve the reported issue regarding the non-remittance of the statutory 10% check-off dues to the national body, as raised by the NLC President.

Earlier in his remarks, the NLC National President, Comrade Joe Ajero, commended Governor Otti’s outstanding leadership and visible transformation across the state. He described the ongoing developments in Abia as “tangible evidence of a people-oriented government.”

“Definitely, things have changed in Abia, even a blind man can see it. Anybody that enters Abia would notice the transformations going on here,” Ajero stated.

Comrade Ajero also appreciated the governor for his proactive reforms in education, particularly the renovation of Abia State University (ABSU) hostels, and reiterated NLC’s request for land allocation and the provision of an operational vehicle for the State Council.

He further appealed for the direct remittance of the statutory 10% monthly check-off dues to the NLC National Headquarters to ensure smooth coordination between the state and national levels of the Congress.

In his remarks, the Abia State NLC Chairman, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, expressed deep appreciation to Governor Otti for his consistent labour-friendly policies, particularly the prompt payment of salaries and the restoration of workers’ confidence in government. He emphasized that the present administration has ended the era of salary arrears and infrastructural decay that characterized previous governments.

The meeting was attended by top government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Professor Kenneth Kalu; Head of Service, Mr. Benson Ojeikere; Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Mr. Kingsley Nwokocha; and Special Assistant to the Governor on Labour Relations, Comrade Godson Anucha, among others.

With this latest engagement, Governor Alex Otti continues to reinforce his reputation as a visionary and labour-friendly leader, firmly committed to restoring dignity, transparency, and accountability in governance while placing workers’ welfare at the hear t of his administration’s agenda.