Politics
Workers Day: Imo NLC appeals to Uzodinma to complete payment of gratuities
The Imo State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress led by Comrade Chigemezu Nwigwe has appealed to the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma to complete the payment of pensioners’ gratuities.
Nwigwe made the appeal as the State chapter of the NLC joined its counterparts to mark 2025 Workers Day Celebration at Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu square in Owerri.
He said that workers in the State appreciate the Governor’s effort in establishing harmonious relationship with the workers’ union in the State, especially in providing a reliable transportation system for workers and making the State secretariat complex more conducive to workers while carrying out their day-to-day activities.
The NLC boss in the State, however, enjoined the Governor to ensure that the long abandoned gratuities of pensioners by previous administrations becomes a thing of the past.
“We appeal to His Excellency to continue the exercise of payment of pensioners, because of those who are yet to get paid.
“We assure you of the continued support of Imo workers to the growth and development of the State,” he said.
Addressing the workers, Uzodinma congratulated them, assuring them that all issues relating to shortfalls in the payment of the new minimum wage and promotions will be resolved.
He urged the workers to always adopt dialogue rather than confrontations as a means of resolving differences with the Government.
“I recall with some sense of regret that for many years before 2020, Imo workers suffered abandonment by previous administrations without promotions, suffered manipulated payroll system, irregular payment of pensions, and non-payment of gratuities for well over 15 years.
“The 2025 May Day celebration calls for a reflection on the greater path that the Imo workers have trod until now that they are enjoying the automated payroll system, regular payment of salaries and pensions, as well as payment of gratuities to retired workers, and the promise to commence payment of the second tranche of gratuities to pensioners,” the governor maintained.
The number one citizen of the State revealed that plans are underway for special salary scale for teachers and medical personnel, saying the State Government is poised to attract the best hands in those sectors knowing the critical roles they play in shaping the future.
Uzodinma thanked the State House of Assembly for repealing what he regarded as obsolete laws which he said prevented reforms in the health sector.
“I seize this opportunity to encourage the civil servants to enroll in the Health Insurance Scheme initiated by this Government as the benefits of enrolling cannot be measured.
“I charge the workers to strive to be civil in their conduct and actions as government will not tolerate indolence and corrupt practices,” the governor warned.
Chairman, Policy Manifesto Committee of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, John Odigie-Oyegun, says former president Muhammadu Buhari gave him the shock of his life, six months into his administration as Nigeria’s leader.
Oyegun made this disclosure on Friday when he featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Prime Time’.
He revealed that as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, he went to tell Buhari that he was not delivering his election promises to Nigerians but that the late president told him he would not rule with strictness, but rather wanted to show Nigerians that he is a true civilian president.
The former APC National Chairman lamented that it became business as usual, from there.
“I was national chairman of the APC. Six months or less into our assuming office, fairly alarmed, I went to the late President Buhari for a one-on-one talk. I said Mr President, this is not what the people were expecting. They wanted a bit of the old president Buhari.
“And he explained to me, Mr Chairman, I have learned my lesson. I was shocked. And don’t forget at that time, a lot of prominent Nigerians took their holidays abroad, just to be sure and see what this new sheriff in town will be.
“Buhari told me he wants to now show the people that he’s a true civilian president in Agbada. And by the time we finished the conversation, I said Oh God, we are finished. Because, if he’s not ready to be strict, what’s the point?
“Weeks later, months later, years later, I was proven correct. And of course, it became business as usual, only that they are a new set of tenants in Aso Rock. That was a shocker,” he said.
Former lawmaker, Dino Melaye Esq, has raised concerns over the Senate’s reported rejection of the electronic transmission of election results.
The move, according to Melaye, is a clear endorsement of election rigging and an indication of a sinister plan to rig the 2027 elections.
In a statement on Friday, the former lawmaker criticized the Senate’s decision, stating that it undermines the credibility of the electoral process.
The African Democratic Congress, ADC chieftain, also stated that the move opens the door for electoral manipulation and fraud.
He further warned that the rejection of electronic transmission of results is a step backwards for democracy in Nigeria.
Melaye called on lawmakers and citizens to stand up against “this blatant attempt to undermine the will of the people and ensure that future elections are free, fair, and transparent”.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said Nigerians have every reason to be mad at the Senate over the ongoing debate on e-transmission of election results.
Ezekwesili made this known on Friday when she featured in an interview on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’ monitored by DAILY POST.
DAILY POST reports that the Senate on Wednesday turned down a proposed change to Clause 60, Subsection 3, of the Electoral Amendment Bill that aimed to compel the electronic transmission of election results.
Reacting to the matter, Ezekwesili said, “The fundamental issue with the review of the Electoral Act is that the Senate retained the INEC 2022 Act, Section 60 Sub 5.
“This section became infamous for the loophole it provided INEC, causing Nigerians to lose trust. Since the law established that it wasn’t mandatory for INEC to transmit electoral results in real-time, there wasn’t much anyone could say.
“Citizens embraced the opportunity to reform the INEC Act, aiming to address ambiguity and discretionary opportunities for INEC. Yet, the Senate handled it with a “let sleeping dogs lie” approach. The citizens have every reason to be as outraged as they currently are.”
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