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The Nigerian Labour Congress in Anambra State are disagreeing over the election processes of the body.
The Eastern Updates can report that the NLC had on Monday, elected Humphrey Nwafor as its interim chairman. But the current and outgoing chairman of the body, Jerry Nnubia, disagreed with the election that brought in Nwafor, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional.
Nwafor, who is the state chairman, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, was returned unopposed in a by-election conducted at the council’s Secretariat in Awka.
Addressing journalists after the election, the returning officer, Comrade Igwebuike Jude, said the by-election which was a constitutional duty, followed a unanimous declaration of the seat of the chairman vacant.
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Igwebuike, who doubles as State Chairman, Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, said the former NLC chairman, Nnubia who had retired as a civil servant, seized to hold any position in the union following the elapse of his tenure on September 16, 2021.
He said, ‘The state executive council met and declared the seat vacant following his (Nnubia) retirement from the civil service.’
‘It is a constitutional provision and it states that after retirement you cease to hold any position in the union.
‘Mr Nwafor will, however, complete the tenure of the former chairman which is not less than 13 months,’ he said.
In his acceptance speech, Nwafor pledged to run an all-inclusive administration, as well as ensure implementation of minimum wage.
He said, ‘You can see the decay we’re facing in the system. The grassroots don’t have confidence again in the leadership organised labour in the state.’
‘Jerry Nnubia has signed an agreement with the government on minimum wage and its adjustment. We’ll look into all, including issues of incessant deductions so that members’ confidence in us will be revalidated.
‘Thank God we’ll be having a Professor as the next governor who knows what it takes to run an administration. We are going to work with him so all the organised labour will be happy.’
In his reaction, the outgoing Chairman, Jerry Nnubia described the election as “illegal and unconstitutional”.
He said he would be formally handing over to a Vice-Chairman of the council after a valedictory meeting of the State Executive Council.
THE EASTERN UPDATES
