The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has accused the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of coming to the state to play partisan politics and blackmail him, as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in November 11 governorship election.
Uzodinma told newsmen at the Presidential villa, in Abuja today, November 2, that there was no reason why the NLC, led by its President, Joe Ajaero, would want to stage protest in the State, very close to election time.
“Recall that when I came in as Governor in January 2020, I started paying minimum wage of 30,000 that has been lying there that previous leadership didn’t pay.
“By December, I paid 13th month; the first time in the history of Imo civil service and I have maintained continuously this 13th month payment as an incentive. I automated the payment systems.
“Salaries are now received in an automated manner in Imo State for the first time. I brought new innovations.
“I reformed civil service. No wonder that the civil service, entire national labour Congress of Imo state chapter endoresed me and I’m the only candidate they are supporting in the election. The Nigerian Union of Pensioners endoresed me.
“From 2007 to 2020, no civil servant in Imo State received gratuity. It is only my government that have now floated bonds to pay outstanding gratuities to civil servants.
“So I want you people to be very careful because there is an attempt to mix up partisan politics or an attempt to blackmail my government, but I can tell you that my people are already aware that was why the NLC Imo State chapter addressed a World Press Conference that what their National Leadership is doing is not correct, and that they are not going to do any strike or protests.
Governor Uzodinma said that because of the refusal of the Imo State chapter to join in the proposed strike action, the national leadership dissolved them and put in a caretaker.
He said that as Chief Security Officer of the State, he has a responsibility to intervene.
“I encouraged the national leadership not to dissolve a management team whose tenure has not expired, and that was what they did.
“I don’t interfere with labour matters, but I have convinced my workers in Imo State to believe in me, and that trust is what opposition parties are trying to fight.
“But I can assure you that Imo people already have taken that decision. “11th November is by the corner. Come and observe the election.”
