Olu Samuel, Lokoja

21 State Labour Unions in Kogi State have resolved to work for the victory of the All Progressives Congress APC Governorship Candidate in the forthcoming November 11 Governorship election.

The Union leadership hinged their resolve to work for the interest of the APC candidate on the fact that as State workers they have gotten all the attention regarding their salaries, and that they have no reason not to support the APC Governorship Candidates.

The Union pointed out that as former workers and labour leaders, the combination of Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo and Comr. Joel Salifu Oyibo have thus far acquired the necessary experience needed to protect the interest of workers if elected.

The Union leaders and their Members gave their resolve to work for the APC Candidates after an address by Comr. Onuh Edoka, who doubles as State Chairman, Steering Committee, Ododo/Joel Labour Support Group on Monday.

Earlier in an address to the leadership of the Unions, Comr. Onuh Edoka, State Chairman, Steering Committee, Ododo/Joel Labour Support Group, for Comr. Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman and Comr. Joel Salifu Oyibo said the mobilization tour organized to meet with the Labour leaders was an idea for the labour movement to have a voice and place in Governance.

The immediate past NLC Chairman described the emergence of Alhaji Ododo and Comr Joel as history made in the State for workers to emerge as Governorship and Deputy Governorship Candidates in the State.

Edoka expressed optimism that the Ododo/Joel ticket will lead Kogi workers out of the challenges faced in the past years by successive administration’s adding that “it is a mandate that if realized would no doubt wipe away and clean the tears of workers and labour leaders in the state.

According to Comr. Edoka “a win for Ododo/Joel means labour has taken over Kogi State, and it is time for Labour and Civil Servants to support their own, insisting that politics is about interest,so labour and workers welfare should be the paramount interest in the forthcoming election”.

Comr. Edoka disclosed that Alhaji Ododo as a former staff of Electricity workers, served as an Executive of NUEE in Niger State and Comr. Joel who was a classroom teacher, was State Treasurer of NLC and immidiate past Chairman of NUT have been picked as Candidates of the APC.

He expressed optimism that the interest of workers and labour would no doubt be promoted and protected if elected as Governor and Deputy respectively.

Comr. Edoka who was the immediate past Chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress, Kogi State Council, said the Mobilization Tour of the SAC/SEC of the Trade Unions (Organized Labour in Kogi State) became necessary for the labour movement to have a voice when the next Government is formed.

Comr. Edoka described the Ododo Joel support group as a platform established to market the APC Candidates who are products of the workers and labour movement, adding that the need for labour to have a sense of belonging in the coming Governorship election has become expedient.

While he urge workers in the State not to follow the crowd, rather they should give them the needed support, having been privileged to have emerged from amongst the working class.

Comr. Edoka urged the Union leaders to mobilize their members towards participating in the choice of who becomes and forms the next government, adding that the reason for the support group is to promote the agenda of workers, their interest and their welfare.