workers in the state to go out for the upper Saturday's governorship
polls in Ekiti, and vote according to their conscience.
NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Raymond Ade Adesanmi, stated this
while addressing a press conference to mark the end of the union's
interactive session with governorship candidates ahead of the July 14
election.
He disclosed that all the candidates engaged by the workers have what
it takes to lead the state as governor, adding that workers should
mobilize adequately and be ready to exercise their civic
responsibility by voting for the candidate of their choice.
Adesanmi said, "Let me say without mincing words that Ekiti state is
blessed with a lot of potentials, there is none of the candidates that
interacted with us that cannot govern the state, hence labour is
saying that workers should go out and mobilize their dependents to
vote according to their conscience.
"Let me re-emphasize here that the Nigeria Labour Congress is
apolitical, hence we enjoin all workers to come out and fulfill our
civic responsibility by voting for the candidate of their choice."
While noting that not all candidates honoured the union's invitation
for interactive session, he thanked those who turned up for the event
for seeing workers as critical stakeholder in the development of the
state.
The labour chief said the interactive session with candidates afforded
them the chance to critique their manifesto as it pertains to the
plight of workers and presented the union's position paper on the
expectations of workers.
He reiterated that the labour union would gave whoever wins the
election three months to clear backlog of salaries, otherwise the
workers would mobilize against such government.
"However, it was made clear to the candidates that peradventure the
present administration cannot clear all the arrears of salaries,
pension and gratuity, labour will give the incoming administration
just three months to clears the backlog of salaries and pension and
six months to reduce the gratuity owed appreciably, otherwise workers
will be led against the government," he said.
Adesanmi however warned politicians in the state to desist from
harassing and intimidating its members, vowing that the union would
stand against such acts.
He added that security agencies have the right to invite members for
questioning, but explained that members should not be ridiculed for
political gains.
According to him, "We are saying without mincing words that the
political gladiators in Ekiti should stop intimidating our members.
Information at our disposal says that some of our members would be
arrested, we are saying government agencies reserve the right to
invite members for interaction but indiscriminate arrest and
intimidation is what the labour in Ekiti State stand against.
"We want to warn all the candidates, be it incumbent or incoming, we
are saying without mincing words that we want peace in Ekiti State.
This coming election does not worth the blood of anybody and we are
saying anybody that is coming to govern us, should not govern us when
we are in our graves. We are saying enough is enough, our members
should not be harassed, labour would rise against such occurrence."
0 Comments