The newly elected President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Enugu State Chapter, Comrade Udoagha Ani, has pledged to intensify the struggle for improved welfare, better working conditions and enhanced productivity for local government workers across the state.
Speaking shortly after his inauguration alongside members of the newly elected State Administrative Council (SAC) on Saturday, June 6, Ani said the mandate given to his leadership by workers would be driven by a commitment to protecting their interests and improving conditions within the local government system.
According to him, the welfare of workers remains the central objective of unionism.
“The next step is to continue to do what we’ve always done for our workers, to continue to press and fight for our workers’ welfare and better welfare. In fact, that’s the essence of why we are here today. That’s why they voted us in,” he said.
“Unionism is all about workers’ interest, fighting for workers’ interest and pressing for better working conditions. We are going to improve much more in pressing for better working conditions and better welfare for our workers.”
Ani noted that although local government workers are often accused of low productivity, the challenges confronting the workforce stem largely from systemic failures rather than a lack of commitment by employees.
“Most times the workers at this third tier are accused of low productivity, but we know the reason why that is so. We always say it is a systemic failure. It is not something you can pin solely on the workers. It is a governance failure,” he stated.
The NULGE leader lamented the declining state of the local government system, saying workers currently operate under difficult conditions with low morale and inadequate support structures.
“The workers in this tier of government face different challenges and I can assure you that the Union will continue to interphase with the government to ensure that our workers have a better environment to carry out their daily activities in the office,” he said.
“We are going to synergise and partner with political leaders to ensure that the enabling environment that will churn out higher productivity in the workforce is put in place. For higher productivity, they have their own part to play and we have our own part to play,” he added.
He further disclosed that the union would continue its regular tours of local government areas and maintain communication channels aimed at educating workers on their responsibilities and the need to justify their earnings through improved performance.
“Coming to work is not enough. It is all about productivity. We want workers to justify their earnings at the end of the month, and we will continue to impress this on them so that the grassroots administration in Enugu State will be better for it,” Ani said.
Also speaking at the event, Comrade Lambert Onuigbo, who represented the National President of NULGE, Comrade Haruna Kankara, charged the new leadership to view union service as a responsibility rather than an avenue for personal gain.
“Union activity is an assignment. Sometimes people think it is a come-and-eat union. It is an assignment,” Onuigbo said.
“The best thing for them is to protect the workers and make sure they are doing everything in accordance with the state’s arrangements so that workers can enjoy what others are enjoying, including the minimum wage, leave allowance and other entitlements.”
While commending the Enugu State Government for its engagement with workers, Onuigbo appealed for an upward review of workers’ earnings in view of prevailing economic realities.
“We want to appeal to the governor to move a bit from where we are because the situation is too hard. If you look at transportation, the economy and everything, government can do more so that it will not always be a struggle,” he stated.
The inauguration also witnessed the swearing-in of 12 other members of the State Administrative Council.
They include Comrade Obetta Jonas as Deputy State President; Comrade Ambassador Ogechukwu Ugwu as State Women Committee Chairperson; Comrade Jude Umeh as Treasurer; Comrade Otti Edith and Comrade Obasi Felix as Trustees; Comrade Joseph Nnamani and Comrade Ngwu George as Auditors; Comrade Nwelem Charles as State Publicity Secretary; Comrade Kenechukwu Chinwe, Comrade Joseph Okwor and Comrade Ifeanyi Ezeja as Welfare Officers; and Comrade Uwaezuoke Chukwurma as Young Workers Representative.
The new executives are expected to steer the affairs of the union in Enugu State, with a focus on workers’ welfare, improved labour relations and strengthening the local government workforce.
