By Mani Imaru.
Edo State was at the weekend celebrating the popular endorsement given the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP by workers under the aegis of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.
The endorsement of the two labour centers was an unprecedented feat for Ighodalo. It is also a rebuke of the All Progressives Congress, APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebhelo. The most obvious rebuke for Okpebhelo is the fact that he is being marketed by Senator Adams Oshiomhole who acquired a national reputation as a labour leader.
However, for the workers who Oshiomhole led at one time to openly snub him and his candidate means that either they found fault with him and his candidate or that they found some positives in Ighodalo. Or perhaps both.
While not dwelling on the negatives associated with Okpebhelo and his lack of ideas as concerning workers’ welfare, suffice it to say that many workers would have been alarmed by his continuous repetition of the phrase that if elected that he will continue from where Oshiomhole stopped.
It will not be forgotten that as governor, Oshiomhole embarked on the largest casualization of the work force by any state government. More than 50,000 workers who were employed through the Youth Employment Scheme (YES) in 2009, were sacked in 2015 when Oshiomhole claimed on television that he “picked them” from the “gutters.”
If Okpebhelo wants to continue the casualisation programme of the Oshiomhole years, one would expect him to say so.
We also are not forgetful of the fact that Oshiomhole since he joined the APC has helped to break strikes embarked upon by workers against the very things he fought against.
Meanwhile, the shinning stars of Governor Godwin Obaseki have been echoed by labour leaders. Last Friday they marched out through the streets of Benin to openly declare why they are backing a continuity under Ighodalo.
Not only has Governor Obaseki been proactive in considering the welfare of workers, Edo State became the first state in the country to implement a minimum wage of N70,000. That was well before the workers even entered into full negotiation with the Federal Government. Please note that federal workers and virtually many other states in the country are yet to start the implementation of the new minimum wage that has been operational in Edo State since May.
So, when Okpebhelo said at a campaign rally in Auchi on Monday, September 9 that he was going to abolish the salary scheme being implemented by Governor Obaseki for that of the Federal Government, many workers were bound to have been shocked. How could he replace what they enjoy now with what has remained an illusion for federal workers.
It was as such not surprising that workers decided to reject his message for the positive welfare benefits of the Obaseki administration.
Indeed, when the workers stormed the Government House, Benin on Friday, the NLC Chairman, Odion Olaye thanked the governor for setting aside N200 million monthly to offset the backlog of gratuity in the State.
He said, “The TUC and NLC are here today to thank you for what you have done for Edo State workers. Prompt payment of salaries and pensions has become your trademark for almost 8 years now.
“Edo workers have endorsed the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo as we will all come out en masse on September 21st to vote for the party to ensure continuity in the State. We will vote and defend our votes.”
On his part, the TUC Chairman hailed the governor’s developmental stride in the last eight years, assuring the votes of members of the TUC to thank him for investing in their welfare.
