The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticized state governors who abandon their states and reside permanently in Abuja while citizens struggle with economic hardship.
Speaking at a town hall meeting with workers at the NLC Secretariat in Lokoja, Kogi State, NLC President Joe Ajaero lamented the absence of governors from their respective states, describing the trend as a major setback to governance and democracy. He noted that during the NLC’s visits to five different zones across the country, only one governor was present to address workers’ concerns, while others were in Abuja.
Ajaero said that this situation is affecting governance as people are unable to engage directly with their leaders. He stressed the need for leaders to be available and responsive to the needs of the people. The town hall meeting in Kogi was part of the NLC’s engagement with workers to understand their challenges and present them to the state government. The visit also included the commissioning of 10 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease transportation difficulties for workers in the state.
During the meeting, workers raised several concerns, including the proscription of labour unions in state-owned tertiary institutions, failure to implement annual salary increases, shortage of teachers in primary and junior secondary schools, and lack of affordable housing for workers. Ajaero condemned the proscription of unions, stating that it is unconstitutional as union activities fall under the Exclusive Legislative List in the Constitution, making them beyond the control of state governments.
He said Kogi is a strategic state for the NLC because its governor, Usman Ododo, and his deputy have backgrounds in labour unions. Ajaero emphasized that the NLC’s visit was aimed at assessing the government’s performance in addressing workers’ concerns and ensuring that issues raised are taken seriously.
He also warned against proposed increases in telecom tariffs, stating that the rising cost of living is already pushing workers to the brink. He called on state governments to be more accountable and present in their states to ensure direct interaction with the people.
The NLC President stressed that governance should not be managed only from Abuja, as people need access to their leaders and the benefits of democracy. He urged state leaders to prioritize governance and remain accessible to the citizens they were elected to serve.
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