Crisis brews as alleged sponsored group plans to hijack NLC in Anambra

Labour crisis is brewing in Anambra State as a group allegedly sponsored by some officials of the state government had perfected plans to highjack the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state.

The former state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Jerry Nnubia handed over to the state vice chairman, Mrs Chinwe Orizu following his retirement from the civil service and by the NLC constitution, Orizu is expected to hold forth till April 2023 when the tenure of the elected chairman would expire.

But Vanguard gathered that a group within the NLC, with the support of the government, had perfected plans to impose another person on NLC as the state chairman, contrary to the provisions of the NLC constitution.

Addressing reporters in Awka yesterday, the new chairman of NLC in the state, Chinwe Orizu said the attention the Congress had been drawn to reports making the rounds that a set of people masquerading as labour leaders had been sponsored to disorganize NLC in Anambra State. According to her, they have been disseminating malicious and false information to the public and the state workforce claiming fake chairmanship and secretary of NLC in the state.

She said: “It is no longer news that I was handed over the mantle of leadership of NLC Anambra State Council as the new chairperson by the immediate past chairperson, -Comrade Jerry Nnubia.

“This handover to me was sequel to the retirement from the civil service by the former chairperson after a meritorious service to the state and in line with the provisions of NLC constitution and in compliance with NLC national secretariat directive. I was handed over this mantle of leadership to complete his tenure which will expire in April 2023, pending when the next delegates conference will be conducted.

“Comrade Nnubia on the 12th of September 2021, during the meeting of State Administrative Council (SAC) comprising all elected officers of NLC and State Executive Council (SEC) comprising all SAC members and all chairmen and secretaries of all affiliate unions to NLC, officially informed the SEC-in-session that he had retired from the civil service.

“The SAC and SEC unanimously resolved that Comrade Jerry Nnubia should hand over within three months from the date of the meeting to bring on board a successor, who will pilot the affairs of the congress for the remaining period of the tenure, which will end in April 2023.

“No election will be conducted during the tenure of the elected leadership and so the next election will hold at the expiration of the present tenure in 2023.

“On 22nd December 2021, during State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, I, Comrade Orizu Chinwe the current chairperson of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) was unanimously chosen from among the four vice-chairmen by SEC in line with the provisions of NLC constitution and in adherence to the directive of the NLC national headquarters, Abuja to take over as the NLC chairperson Anambra State Council for the remaining tenure of outgoing chairman. The valedictory SEC meeting /handover ceremony was successfully done on the 22nd of December 2021 at the Geogold hotel Awka.

“We wish to use this opportunity to request Anambra State workers and the public to disregard the antics of these impostors and any misinformation peddled by them as they are desperate, illegal, misguided and paid agents bent on mortgaging the interest of workers in the state for their personal and selfish interests.

“We also urge the public, especially Anambra workers to resist the evil and sinister motives of these planning to hijack and mortgage their future.

“This administration shall assiduously work to ensure that the workers enjoy all the goodies of a diligent worker as our main interest is to fight for the rights and welfare of workers in the state”.

Orizu promised to take up the issue of unpaid gratuities and the implementation of an acceptable minimum wage in the state with the incoming governor of the state, Professor Chukwuma Soludo.

“We will lay everything on the table, and we hope he will understand the need to give the workers and retirees their dues”, she said.

Vanguard