The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has elected new executives in Cross River State.
The new excos, CONVERSEER gathered were elected on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, in the TUC 6thTriennial Delegates Conference held in Calabar, Cross River State capital. The new executives will pilot the affairs of the union for the next three years.
Comrade Monday Ogbodum returned unpossessed as Chairman, while Comrade Gabriel Effiong and Comrade Ken Bassey as Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively.
Others include Comrade (Dr) Joseph Ewa as Assistant Secretary, Moses Ekpo as Treasurer, Itoro Anselem as Assistant Treasurer, Comrade (Dr) Bassey Icha as PRO, Comrade Celestine Ogbu as Auditor, Comrade Clarkson Otu as ex-Officio and Comrade Mustapha Okon as Auditor II.
Also, Comradess (Mrs) Josephine Abobi was elected as the Chairperson of Women Commission and Comradess (Mrs) Regina Odunsi as Secretary of Women Commission.
Senator Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State congratulated the union for a successful end of leadership term and a peaceful transition.
Ayade who was ably represented by Mr Timothy Akwaji, Head of Service (HoS) of Cross River State, however, stated that he has always placed a premium on the welfare of workers by paying salaries regularly.
He said: “We know there are challenges, as we sit down here, there are states in Nigeria owing salaries up to one year but in Cross River State, our story is not as bad as that and we will continue to do the needful.
“Also, the challenges that we have as it concerns the payment of gratuities is being addressed effectively”.
In his remark, Comrade Festus Osifo, National President of TUC, represented by Comrade Tony Mokwenye called on the Cross River State Government to implement the new minimum wage to ease the sufferings of civil servants, especially as the country is facing a harsh economy.
In his acceptance speech, the newly sworn-in Chairman, Comrade Monday Ogbodum said he was committed to the welfare of workers in the state while urging them to always verify information before sharing.
Ogbodum said he would raise the bar as Chairman even higher by ensuring that all that workers were entitled to be duly given to them.
His words: “I can’t do it on my own, I need the support of every worker in Cross River State, I want to also beg you to desist from sharing unverified information to avoid unnecessary panic in the system”.
Speaking further, Ogbodum, on behalf of the Union called on members and Nigerians at large to ensure they change the narrative by refusing to sit on the fence during the 2023 general elections.
He said that the crop of leaders in the country has failed Nigerians while calling on citizens to braze up and make effective change with their PVC by turning out to vote massively.
Ogbodum who bemoaned the harsh economic situation in the country said there is an urgent need to enthrone transformative governance through the democratic emergence of competent and visionary leaders at all levels.
“The crop of leaders in the country have failed Nigerians. I’m using this medium to call on workers, civil societies and indeed Nigerians to braze up, hold the bull by the horns, to effect and change the narratives by voting personalities with integrity and Nigeria’s interest at heart.
“We can’t continue this way, you and I and all of us must effect the change that we want to see, nobody should sit on the fence, we must all come out and participate by exercising our civil responsibility come 2023,” Ogbodum said.
Speaking on his giant strides in the past years, he maintained that his administration was able to fast-track the implementations of Civil Servants who were promoted in 2016 without implementation.
According to him, the TUC in collaboration with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was able to get approval and release of N200million for payment of gratuities that was left unattended to since 2014.
He also commended the State Government for lifting the embargo on the employment of civil servants by granting approval for fresh employment into the civil service.
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