The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has strongly criticised state governors for abandoning their responsibilities and domains by governing remotely from the nation’s capital city Abuja.
Speaking on Monday, Ajaero lamented that many governors now reside permanently in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaving their states in disarray.
Ajaero’s comments were in response to the proscription of labour unions in state-owned tertiary institutions by former Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello.
He dismissed the move as unconstitutional, stressing that labour union activities fall under the exclusive legislative list in Nigeria’s Constitution, making them beyond the control of any state government.
The labour leader also expressed concern over the frequent absence of governors from their states, describing it as a major obstacle to governance and democracy.
“We have visited about five zones, and in only one state was the governor present. Each time we go, they are in Abuja. This trend is affecting governance and the welfare of the people,” Ajaero stated.
He stressed that governance should be about direct engagement with citizens, not remote administration from the capital.
On the issue of labour union proscription, Ajaero maintained that no governor has the authority to ban worker unions, as they are nationally registered and regulated by the Registrar of Trade Unions.
“You don’t ban what you don’t control. For administrative convenience, unions may establish state branches, but their legality is rooted in national law, not state government policies,” he argued.
Ajaero also condemned the federal government’s contemplation of increasing telecom tariffs, warning that such a move would exacerbate the financial burden on already struggling workers.
“Workers are already suffering under the weight of economic hardship. Increasing tariffs now would be pushing them too far,” he warned.
As part of efforts to support workers, Ajaero announced that the NLC leadership had delivered 10 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to the Kogi State chapter to help ease transportation difficulties.
Ajaero acknowledged Kogi State’s significance to the labour movement, highlighting that both Governor Usman Ododo and his deputy have backgrounds in union leadership.
“This is like homecoming for us. We want to ensure that the expectations of workers are met and that the government remains accountable to them,” he said.
He urged state leaders to remain present and engaged in governance, ensuring that citizens receive the dividends of democracy.
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