2023: TUC Charges Workers To Vote Good Leaders

Trade Union Congress (TUC) says the current situation in the country should compel Nigerians, especially workers and civil society organisations, to join others in electing transformational leaders across board during the 2023 general elections.
Chairman of Cross River State Chapter of TUC, Mr Monday Ogbodum, stated this at the 6th Triennial Delegates’ Conference of the congress in Calabar, midweek.
According to him, some of the present leaders in the country have failed the people, adding that anyone who cherishes Nigeria’s unity must not sit on the fence this time around, but participate actively in the electoral process.
“I call on all workers, civil society organisations and indeed Nigerians to brace up, hold the bull by the horn to change the narratives by voting someone with vision, come 2023.
“We can’t continue with the way we are going; we must all effect the change; don’t sit on the fence; we must all come out, participate and exercise our civic responsibility, come 2023,” Ogbodum stated.
The TUC Chairman, however, commended the State Governor, Ben Ayade,qa for lifting embargo on employment into the state civil service.
He urged him to look into the three years of unpaid salaries of the 1,800 workers recruited in 2019.
“I commend the Governor for lifting the embargo, but I want to appeal that federal character principle should be applied in the engagement of Cross River people to these positions,” he stated.
Responding, the Governor assured that every ward in the state would be considered for the recruitment.
Represented by the state Head of Service, Mr Timothy Akwaji, the governor said that he had placed premium on welfare of civil servants, in spite of the state’s lean resources.
“Lots of wrong things have been said about this recruitment, but let it be known that there is nothing political about it.
“The last time massive recruitment of this nature took place was 30 years ago, and there is the need for us to fill the positions that will be vacant because of the present mass retirement of civil servants in the state.
“In this recruitment exercise, we are conscious that every political ward will be taken into consideration. There is no smokescreen about the recruitment, as being alleged,” the governor stated.
The Tide’s source reports that Ogbodum was returned unopposed for a second term in office.