 has expressed concern over the growing trend of state governors spending more time in Abuja){kind=link}
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed concern over the growing trend of state governors spending more time in Abuja than in their respective states, leaving their citizens to struggle with economic hardship.
NLC President Joe Ajaero made this observation during a town hall meeting with workers at the NLC Secretariat in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The gathering was part of the union’s visit to commission 10 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses meant to ease transportation challenges for workers in the state.
The meeting provided an opportunity for workers to voice their grievances and demands, which the NLC leadership pledged to communicate to the governor.
However, Ajaero lamented that during similar visits to five different zones, they found most governors absent, as they were frequently in Abuja.
“Governance is being affected because many governors now practically live in Abuja.
“We have visited five zones, including Kogi, and have only met with one governor.
“Each time we arrive, they are in Abuja,” Ajaero said.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between federal and state governance to ensure that democracy delivers its benefits to the people.
“If we are to address workers’ concerns effectively, we need governors to be present. If the governor is around, we will convey your messages directly to him.
“Otherwise, we will pass them on to whoever he delegates,” he added.
Ajaero highlighted Kogi’s significance to the NLC, noting that Governor Usman Ododo and his deputy have backgrounds in labour unions.
He explained that the town hall meeting was an opportunity to assess their performance and determine if they were upholding the same standards they once advocated for.
Regarding the ban on labour unions in state-owned tertiary institutions by the previous administration of Governor Yahaya Bello, Ajaero expressed shock, stating that such a move was unconstitutional.
“Union activities fall under the Exclusive Legislative List in the Constitution. No governor has the authority to ban them.
“Trade unions are registered nationally, and while they may have branches in states for administrative purposes, no state government has control over them,” he clarified.
Workers at the meeting raised several concerns, including the decade-long ban on unions in Kogi State Polytechnic, Kogi State University, and other state-owned colleges.
They also called for the NLC’s intervention on issues such as the non-implementation of annual salary increases, lack of housing for workers, and teacher shortages in primary and junior secondary schools.