Kogi Guber: Ododo/Joel will form workers friendly government — Labour Unions

Workers in Kogi State have been assured that Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo and Comr. Joel Salifu will not use workers as learning tools, having gathered workers and labour experience, if elected as Governor and Deputy.

The immediate past Kogi State TUC Chairman, Comrade Ranti Ojo gave the assurances at a meeting organized by Ododo Joel Labour Support Group, urged labour and workers to use their strategic position in determining who becomes Governor in the forthcoming November 11 Governorship Election.

” We have the force. The numbers and tenacity. Let us use our support well by joining hands to produce the next governor for the State”.

Comr. Ojo who doubles as the Secretary of the State Steering Committee, Ododo Joel Labour Support Group said as labour and workers, they time not to fold their hands and watch who becomes the next Governor has become expedient.

” Let us be focused by working together. The time for labour to have a voice within the political arena of the state should begin with the November 11 Governorship election”.

“Without labour struggling, we got the Governorship and Deputy Governorship Candidates of APC. This is not an opportunity that should be allowed to slip out of our hands, so as not to pass the route of the past”.

” Don’t allow the anger of the past to becloud our sense of decision in who governs the State. Our decision to work with the APC Governorship Candidates, is informed by the fact that as labour leaders, our interest will be more protected”.

Also speaking, Comr. Tom Abutu, one time Kogi State NULGE President and Member, Steering Committee, Ododo Joel Support Group, described the Support Group as a platform labour and workers want to use to change the sad narratives of the past, urged workers to put behind the past and chat a new course.

” Ododo was a worker who served as an Exco of NUEE. Comr. Joel was a Teacher. He became NUT Chairman. If given the opportunity of having a governor and Deputy who are labour leaders, workers and labour would be great beneficiaries “.

Also speaking, Comr. Onuh Edoka, Steering Committee Chairman, Ododo Joel Support Group, described workers as critical stakeholders in governance, said they should no longer fold there hands and watch, explaining that the support group is a forum to chat a common front for the next government.

The former NLC Chairman said the journey labour and workers are about to enter calls for critical reexamination, said the thinking of bringing a new government so as not to pass through the same old route of not deciding who governs the State should no longer be allowed.

” With Ododo Joel, they will have an insider view of governance and the understanding of what labour and workers need”, said the APC has offered the duo of labour leaders as it Candidates, first in the history of the State.

“Ododo/Joel ticket will lift Kogi workers out of the quagmire we have always found ourselves by not being part of deciding who governs the State in the past”, said labour and workers owe it a duty to have and remain a voice in the forthcoming election.

“Kogi workers will have a sense of belonging when Ododo/Joel as labour leaders form government”.

” We are working on a Charter of demand of what is our expectations, particularly what Government is owing LG workers and Pensioners”, commended the LG workers for being patient with Government, assured of better deal for workers with the APC Governorship Candidates.

In their separate remarks, Bamidele Ologe Olowu, Comr. Yusuf Isah NULGE, Haruna Yakubu, Abdulmalik Idris, resolved to reach out to other workers under their Leadership on why the Ododo Joel ticket is best for workers and labour.

Recall that the Ododo Joel Labour Support Group had in the last couple of days began a Mobilization Tour of the SAC/SEC of the Trade Unions (Organized Labour) in Kogi State.

The Support Group had earlier met with 27 industrial Unions, today met with 4 other industrial Unions; made up of NULGE, NURTW, MHWUN and NANNM.