You’ve lost relevance, Bayelsa dep gov blasts NLC, TUC

…says silence over closed varsities, bad economy unacceptable

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has expressed worry over the way the organised labour has been tackling issues bordering on welfare of the masses in recent times

He observed that the performance of labour organisations such as the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have not been impressive in terms of protecting the interest of their members, democracy and the national economy.

Ewhrudjakpo stated this while granting audience to the National President of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Benjamin Anthony, and the South-South chairpersons of the union in Government House, Yenagoa.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Doubara Atasi, yesterday, the deputy governor stressed that organised labour had lost the fervency it was known for in the past when the likes of the late Michael Imodu, Ali Ciroma, Ovie Kokori, Chief Wariebi Agamene of NUPENG and others held sway.

Insisting that the labour movement had lost much integrity, Ewhrudjakpo noted that labour’s silence in the country when most public universities had been shut for upward of seven months was unacceptable.

He maintained that in the face of skyrocketing cost of living in Nigeria, occasioned by soaring food and fuel prices, which have made nonsense of the national minimum wage, labour could not afford to be indifferent while workers are being subjected to economic hardship.

The Bayelsa number two man, who called on labour leaders to wake up from what he called “self-induced slumber”, reminded them that under their watch, the Federal Government had borrowed so massively that the national debt profile had hit thresholds never known in the history of the country.

While assuring the AUPCTRE delegation of government’s support for their upcoming conference in Bayelsa, Ewhrudjakpo said Governor Douye Diri’s administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of workers in the state.

“We believe labour has almost lost its integrity. Labour has decided to downgrade itself from a four-category hurricane to a mere seasonal storm, and that is not encouraging for us,” he said.

Earlier, the National President of AUPCTRE, Benjamin Anthony, acknowledged the labour-friendly disposition of the state government, which explains the reason the union conferred a special award on him earlier this year.