I Have Stepped On Toes Since Becoming NLC President – Ajaero

Posted by Thandiubani on Wed 24th May, 2023 - tori.ng

According to Ajaero, he is never ashamed because it’s a way of gauging his effectiveness as President of the labour union.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero has said his effort to tranform the lives of Nigerian workers has forced him to step on toes.

According to Ajaero, he is never ashamed because it’s a way of gauging his effectiveness as President of the labour union.

He made the statement when he paid a familiarization visit to the corporate headquarters of the Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria, (SSUCOEN) in Abuja.

Recall that since Ajaero emerged as President of NLC in a consensus arrangement, he has fallen out with governors from the East, especially the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma.

He had alleged that Uzodinma attempted to clone the state executive of the NLC all in a bid to boost his political profile.

Ajaero had, in the course of the misunderstanding, ordered the halting of flights from Lagos to Owerri recently.

In the course of engaging with SUCCOEN officials, he criticized members of the National Assembly, including officials of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, alleging that they pay themselves bogus salaries and gratuities without having the requisite qualifications.

Ajaero said: “I am with you on this. I will not be here and lamenting. We are not ashamed of fighting the battles of our members. Since we came on board, we have stepped on toes, and they are also fighting back. That is how we measure that we are doing well.

“Look at the budget, now that they are leaving office, how much they are paying themselves as gratuity, you will cry. Find out from people in the parliament, some of them don’t have NCE to earn the salary of NCE holders. And the salaries and wages commission, I don’t know how they are operating.

“That’s the most discriminatory organisation. If you check now, some of them are in court because they don’t have either NYSC discharge certificate, or school certificate, and then they are earning millions and billions. So, you now have two policies for the same people, in the same country. It is scandalous. I also think all of us need to show some interest in politics.”

Meanwhile, SSUCOEN President, Danladi Msheliza has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari, on the need to quickly assent to the bill seeking Amendment of the Act establishing colleges of education in the nation before vacating office.

According to the SSUCOEN President, the new Act, if approved, would change the face of colleges of education in the country, “The Act we are using currently is not only archaic but was promulgated by a decree of 1986 and therefore, it cannot be an act that should be operational in colleges of education in this country. Polytechnics and Universities’ Act have been amended.”

He said the union took it upon itself, and sponsored a bill in 2018, but before the lifespan of the eighth Assembly expired, Mr President couldn’t give assent to the bill hence they took up the sponsorship of that bill again.