By DANJUMA JOSEPH, Lafia –
The Nasarawa State chapter of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), as well as over 40 artisans and trade associations, have endorsed Governor Abdullahi Sule, for another term in office.
The organised labour and trade unions, operating under the eagis of the Engineer Sule Reelection Forum (ESRF), made this known when they hosted a one-million man rally, at the Lafia Square, Monday.
The unions and other trade associations and groups, declared total support for the governor to continue in office, in order to carry on with his laudable development strides.
Speaking earlier, Comrade Gabriel Angbashi of the TUC, who doubles as the Chairman, contact committee of the forum, commended the leadership style, as well as the development strides of the Governor.
Comrade Angbashi particularly commended the Governor for protecting the welfare of workers in the state, implementing promotions of workers that have stagnated for the past 13 years.
He also commended Engineer Sule decision to complete all the projects started by his predecessors, thus paving the way for continuity in governance.
“You are rich in the heart. Intellectually, you are rich. Body, soul and spirit you are rich. And that is why you are dishing out what you have to make Nasarawa State move ahead,” Comrade Angbashi said.
The state Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Yusuf Iya, showered encomiums on the governor for his leadership style, particularly his response in tackling issues pertaining to workers in the state.
According to the NLC chairman, their resolve to support Engineer Sule and his Deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe for another term in office, as well as the All Progressives Congress (APC), is predicated on the passion and enthusiasm workers of the state, have for the administration and the APC at both the state and national levels.
Comrade Iya said the support for the Engineer Sule administration is geared towards appreciating the laudable projects and programs embarked upon by the present administration and the unions desire for the Governor to do more for workers.
“The programs and projects that motivate us to support His Excellency are the exceptional policy thrust of this administration and your visionary leadership style which are geared towards transforming the economy and social well-being of the state,” he stated.
The labour leader cited Engineer Sule’s inroads in the areas of agriculture, education, inclusive governance, poverty alleviation through adoption of the federal government conditional cash transfer scheme, industrialisation, investment drive, skills acquisition, women and youth empowerment, security, amongst others, as reasons why Engineer Sule deserves another term in office.
“If I should elaborate or expatiate on what His Excellency has done to us as civil servants, ranging from promotion, payment of arrears of salary for the month of August 2016, those are key issues that the labour in the state felt that there is need for us to continue to support His Excellency to finish all those things,” Comrade Iya stated.
Also speaking,Comrade John Ogiri, state Chairman, All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), said the group was able to mobilise support because of the antecedence and purposeful leadership of the Governor.
Comrade Ogiri disclosed that, this is the first time in the political history of the state, that civil servants and organised labour, are accepting to openly declare support to a government and the candidature of an individual.
“Our ability to succeed in convincing people was borne out of the fact that, your antecedent, your purposeful leadership, your open door policy has created and made it conducive for us to convince every other person within the state.
“It might interest you to know that this is the first of its kind, that civil servants organised labour, will agree to in support of any government or the candidature of any person and this is the first time. And this is as a result of your leadership style,” Comrade Ogiri said.
In a goodwill message, first executive governor of the state and National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, commended the labour and trade unions for appreciating the administration of Engineer Sule and for appreciating what the Governor is doing to improve the standards of living of the people.
Senator Adamu added that, for any leader to have such support and backing, especially that the support is not just thrown in the air but based on verifiable things that have been done, speaks volumes for the quality of leadership.
The APC national chairman urged workers in the state to continue to support the APC administration for the progress and development of the state.
He particularly commended the labour unions for openly declaring their support for the Engineer Sule administration.
“There is nothing better than that. Any leader who will have this kind of backing, this kind of support, a support that is not just thrown into the air, a support that is properly grounded on things that were done, things that can be seen, things that can be touched.
” I praise you all for your commendation of the administration. And above everything else, I commend you for not doing this in secrecy but coming out openly and saying this to the general public,” Senator Adamu stated.
Responding, Gov Abdullahi Sule, showed appreciation to the NLC, TUC and other over 40 trade groups and associations, for coming out to publicly declare support for his administration.
Engineer Sule described the civil service in Nasarawa State is the engine room of government, without which no government can perform effectively, stressing that, this informed why since inception, his administration made it a priority to address the welfare of civil servants.
The Governor said his administration has cleared long standing arrears of workers salary, ensured workers are paid as at when due, while embarking on holistic rehabilitation of the civil service for effective service delivery.
He pointed out that his administration has so far cleared the backlog of promotion of workers in the state that has stagnated for the past 13 years, as well as set aside N300m monthly for settling long standing payment of gratuity to pensioners.
He said, so far, his administration has cleared outstanding gratuity from 1996 to 2010.
“We are paying it on first come, first serve. You don’t need to know anyone at the top before you are paid your gratuity. As long as you served the state, you will get your gratuity,” the Governor assured.
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