- Governor Hope Uzodinma accuses NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, of mixing politics with his labor union role
- Uzodinma defends his record on civil service salaries and disputes allegations of reneging on labour agreements
Governor Hope Uzodinma has levied allegations against the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, claiming that he has mixed politics with his role in the labor union.
Uzodinma, who hails from Imo State, asserted that Ajaero has actively engaged in local politics, suggesting that it may be influencing his actions as a union leader.
Speaking after receiving the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party’s governorship candidate for the November 11 election from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the governor refuted any involvement in the attack on the labour leader, which took place on Wednesday.
Uzodinma disclosed that his intervention was required to reinstate NLC leaders in his state who had been suspended and replaced with a caretaker committee.
Furthermore, he highlighted that Ajaero proceeded with a protest despite the fact that the state chapter, which had initially supported his second-term bid, had dissociated itself from the action.
In response to allegations that Imo State owed civil servants, Uzodinma clarified that he had automated the payment of salaries. He reiterated that he had consistently paid the N30,000 minimum wage and the 13th-month salary since his inauguration as governor on January 15, 2020.
Regarding accusations that he reneged on an agreement with the labor union in 2021, Uzodinma emphasized his commitment to the welfare of civil servants, noting the various initiatives and reforms he had introduced during his tenure. He argued that these actions had earned him the endorsement of the Imo State chapter of the NLC and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners.
Uzodinma acknowledged the complexity of the situation and the attempt to intertwine partisan politics and challenges his government has faced. He called for caution in interpreting the events, emphasizing that the people of Imo State had already made their decision, with the forthcoming November 11 election serving as the ultimate judgment day.