Victor Ezeja
Labour union in Abia State may soon call off its two-week old strike following their meeting with the Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti on Friday, 26 May 2023.
The Labour union embarked on industrial action to press for the payment of outstanding salaries and pensions to its members by the state government.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Friday meeting of the labour union leaders with the Governor-elect at his country home in Isialangwa, has raised hope of a great possibility of calling off the strike soon.
The national leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had in February declared an indefinite strike in Abia State to compel Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, to offset the arrears of salaries, pensions and retirement benefits owed civil servants.
However, the union later suspended the action, about five days later, after it supposedly reached an agreement with the state government.
The Abia NLC leadership, led by its chairman, Comrade Pascal Nweke, left the meeting with a promise to revert to Dr Otti, who will be formally inaugurated on Monday, May 29, 2023 as the governor of the state, after it had consulted its national leadership.
Otti had while meeting with the Labour officials reiterated his campaign promise to prioritise the issue of salary payments as well as ensure that the arrears are cleared within the shortest time possible.
The meeting between Dr Otti and the Abia labour union leaders came barely two days after the Alex Otti Inauguration Committee briefed journalists on the preparation towards the inauguration of Dr Otti as the 10th Governor of the State.
The Committee chairman, Hon Iheanacho Obioma, had called on the union to call off the strike as a sign of good faith and support to the incoming Labour Party (LP) administration.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
