Governor Otti Approves Land for NLC Secretariat, Orders Probe into Missing Check-Off Dues in Abia

|By Chinwendu Nwani

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has approved a parcel of land for the construction of a permanent secretariat for the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.

Governor Otti announced the approval on Wednesday while receiving the NLC national delegation led by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, at Government House, Umuahia. He described his administration as “worker-friendly” and reaffirmed his commitment to improving the welfare of Abia workers.

The Governor also ordered an investigation into allegations that the statutory 10 percent check-off dues deducted from Abia civil servants have not been remitted to the NLC national headquarters.

Highlighting his administration’s achievements, Otti disclosed that 5,394 teachers have so far been employed, while recruitment of 771 health workers is ongoing. He further revealed that his government has approved payment of long-overdue financial benefits to next-of-kins of deceased Abia civil servants, covering arrears accumulated over the past 16 years.

Earlier, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, had appealed to the Governor to provide land for a befitting NLC secretariat and an operational vehicle for the union in the state. Ajaero commended Otti for his infrastructural strides and cordial labour relations, urging the Abia NLC leadership to ensure that the statutory 10 percent monthly check-off dues are remitted directly to the national body.

Governor Otti’s assurance, Ajaero noted, signals a new era of mutual respect and partnership between the Abia State Government and organized labour.