“Most Governors Now Live Permanently in Abuja” – NLC President

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has criticized state governors for spending more time in Abuja than in their respective states, leaving governance in disarray. Speaking at a town hall meeting with workers at the NLC Secretariat in Lokoja, Kogi State, Ajaero also emphasized that no governor has the authority to ban labour unions, as union activities fall under the exclusive legislative list in the Constitution.

Ajaero’s remarks came in response to the proscription of labour unions in state-owned tertiary institutions by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello. He condemned the move, stating that labour unions are registered nationally and cannot be banned at the state level. He argued that the state government lacked the legal right to prohibit unions, emphasizing that unions operate independently of state control.

Beyond the issue of union proscription, Ajaero expressed concern over the increasing absence of governors from their states, noting that this has negatively impacted governance. He revealed that during the NLC’s visits to five zones, only one governor was present, while the others were in Abuja. He described this trend as a major governance challenge, as it deprives citizens of direct engagement with their leaders and weakens democratic accountability.

As part of his visit to Kogi State, Ajaero oversaw the inauguration of 10 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses provided to the state chapter of the NLC to alleviate transportation issues. He also addressed the economic hardship faced by workers, warning that any move to increase telecom tariffs would further strain the already struggling workforce.

During the meeting, workers in Kogi State raised concerns about the non-implementation of annual salary increases, lack of housing provisions, and a shortage of teachers in primary and junior secondary schools. They also highlighted that unions in institutions such as Kogi State Polytechnic, Kogi State University, and the state’s Colleges of Education, Technology, and Nursing had been banned for over a decade.

Ajaero assured workers that the NLC would relay their concerns to the governor if he was available, but noted that the frequent absence of governors has made direct dialogue with them difficult. He emphasized the importance of workers having access to their leaders to ensure democratic benefits are felt at all levels.

The NLC president also pointed out the significance of Kogi State in the labour movement, as Governor Usman Ododo was once an NLC official in Niger State, and his deputy was a former leader in the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). He stressed that the meeting aimed to assess the government’s performance and determine if those in power were upholding the values they once advocated.

Ajaero reaffirmed the NLC’s commitment to engaging with the government to address workers’ grievances and ensure better working conditions across the country.