Otti reiterates commitment to prioritise Abia workers’ welfare
Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State, has reiterated the commitment of his administration to continue to prioritise the welfare of workers and the entire people of the State.
Governor Otti stated this in his office when he received in audience a delegation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led by Joe Ajaero, national president. Governor Otti, who stated that his administration is labour-friendly, noted that government is about the welfare of the people, disclosing that his administration has employed 5,394 new teachers and is currently employing 771 health professionals.
“And for us, our relationship with Labour has been very cordial, and we all work for the same purpose.
“Because at the end of the day, Government is about the welfare of the people. And who are the people? The people who work.
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“You may also have heard that not too long ago, precisely by the 22nd of last month, 5,394 new teachers were recruited and deployed to our schools.
“Interestingly, the minimum wage for teachers is higher than the ordinary minimum wage. As we speak, we are hiring about 771 medical professionals to be deployed to our hospitals,” Otti stated.
He disclosed that his administration is presently defraying 16 years of death benefit to the next of kin of deceased Abia workers, adding that he has already paid arrears of pensions owed by the past administration.
On the request for a befitting secretariat for Abia NLC, Governor Otti approved a piece of land for them and assured the delegation of assisting in building the secretariat, as well as providing an operational vehicle for the NLC in the State.
Governor Otti further directed Godson Anucha, Special Assistant to the Governor on Labour Relations, and Okoro Ogbonnaya, the NLC State Chairman, to sit and look into why the statutory 10% check-off dues do not get to the national body as reported by Ajero.
Ajaero, earlier in his address, while acknowledging the transformational efforts of Governor Alex Otti, lauded the renovation of ABSU hostels and the other friendly disposition of Governor Otti to Abians.
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“Definitely, things have changed in Abia; even a blind man can see it. Anybody who enters Abia would notice the transformations going on here,” Ajero noted.
Ajero, who appealed to the Governor for the donation of land for the building of a befitting secretariat for Abia NLC, and provision of an operational vehicle for the NLC in the State, also called for direct remittance of statutory 10% monthly check-off dues to the National body by the State NLC.
Okoro, the State NLC Chairman, in a brief remark, commended Otti for various labour-friendly dispositions towards Abia workers, including regular payment of monthly salaries.
He noted that the present administration has ended the era of owing Abia workers as well as arrested the issue of dilapidated road infrastructure, hospitals, among others.
