21 Labour unions have resolved to work for the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the forthcoming November 11 governorship election in Kogi state, Alhaji Usman Ododo.
The Unions made their resolve known in Lokoja on Monday.
State Chairman, Steering Committee, Ododo/Joel Labour Support Group, Comrade Onuh Edoka said the Union leadership hinged their resolve to work for the interest of the APC candidate in view of the fact that as State workers they have gotten all the attention as regarding their salaries, as 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.
Edoka 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 Comrade Joel as history made in the State for workers to emerge as Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates.
Edoka expressed optimism that the Ododo/Joel ticket will lead Kogi workers out of the challenges faced in the past years by successive administrations, adding that it is a mandate that will wipe away and clean the tears of workers.
According to Edoka, a win for Ododo/Joel means labour has taken over Kogi State. He said it is time for Labour and civil servants to support their own, insisting that politics is about interest.
He stressed that labour and workers welfare should be the paramount interest in the forthcoming election.
Edoka, 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.
Edoka disclosed that Ododo, as a former electricity worker, served as an Executive of NUEE in Niger State, and Comrade Joel who was a classroom teacher, State Treasurer of NLC and immediate past Chairman of NUT, to have been picked as candidates of the APC, the interest of workers and labour would no doubt be promoted and protected if elected as Governor and Deputy respectively.
He urged the Union leaders to mobilize their members towards participating in the choice of who becomes governor and forms the next government.
Comr. Edoka urged the labour leaders to help use the opportunity to promote, market and campaign for Ododo/Joel ticket, assuring that their emergence would better the interest of workers, particularly that they are coming from the system.
