• NLC accuses gov of blackmail, supports planned strike
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has sacked all transition committee chairmen across the 21 local councils of the state. The development was contained in a letter titled, ‘Expiration of tenure and handover to heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs),’ dated May 17, 2024, and signed by the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Collins Nwabunwanne.
The order takes effect from today, Monday, May 20, 2024. The letter read: “Following the expiration of your tenure as Transition Committee Chairman, you are hereby directed to hand over the affairs of your Local Government Council to the Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) in your respective local councils.
“This directive takes effect from Monday, May 20, 2024. Thank you for your service to the state.” The last time council elections were held in Anambra State was at the twilight of former Governor Peter Obi’s administration in 2014. Since then, the local councils have been run by caretaker committee chairmen.
Meanwhile, Soludo had, during the 2021 governorship campaign, and even at his swearing-in on March 17, 2022, assured that he would conduct local council elections within six months in office.
Recall that a rights activist, Ifeanyi Okonkwo, recently took the governor and those who served before him, including Peter Obi and Willie Obiano, to court over their inability to conduct council elections, demanding to know how the revenues that accrued to the councils within the period were spent, among others.
In another development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged Soludo to show more respect and dignity to its workers and people, advising him not to allow the state to be dragged into desperate mudslinging in an attempt to divert public attention over the ultimatum given to the state by the trade unions.
In a statement by the NLC, yesterday, the congress said that contrary to assertions made by the state government, its President, Joe Ajaero’s remarks were not intended to disparage the efforts of the governor or his administration.
Reacting to Friday’s statement credited to Soludo, accusing the NLC President of, among others, instigating the seven days ultimatum by the Anambra leaders of NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) because of his 2027 political ambition, the NLC said that the remarks were aimed at highlighting specific concerns regarding the implementation of labour-related policies and the resolution of vexatious issues affecting workers in the state.
NLC said: “As a professor, we strongly believe that such gutter snipe ought not to have been allowed to proceed out of his administration, recognising that there are still unresolved issues, including the payment of the 2019 national minimum wage, contributory pension deductions and the cessation of special allowances.”
The congress reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and dialogue with the government to address the grievances of workers in the state.
