Alex Otti Approves Land for NLC Secretariat, Orders Probe Into Missing Check-Off Dues in Abia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has granted approval for the allocation of land to build a permanent secretariat for the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, PulseNets learnt.
The governor also ordered a probe into reports alleging that the statutory 10% check-off dues deducted from Abia civil servants fail to reach the NLC’s national headquarters.
During a meeting with a delegation of the NLC national leadership, led by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers in Abia. He disclosed that 5,394 teachers have so far been employed, while the recruitment of 771 health workers is currently ongoing.
According to Otti, “My government is deliberate about restoring dignity to public service. We have approved the payment of financial benefits to the next-of-kins of deceased civil servants — covering arrears that go as far back as sixteen years.”
He added that his administration will continue to maintain an open and progressive relationship with the labour union, ensuring that Abia remains a model for worker-friendly governance in Nigeria.
Earlier, Comrade Joe Ajaero had appealed to the governor for the donation of land to construct a befitting secretariat for the NLC in Abia, as well as the provision of an operational vehicle to ease the union’s activities within the state.
Ajaero, while commending Otti’s administration for its visible infrastructural strides and cordial engagement with organized labour, urged the Abia State NLC leadership to ensure direct remittance of the statutory 10% monthly check-off dues to the NLC national headquarters.
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He reportedly told PulseNets, “Governor Otti’s administration has shown a clear example of how government and labour can work hand in hand for development. We hope other states will emulate Abia’s model.”
PulseNets obtained confirmation that the meeting ended on a positive note, with both sides reaffirming their shared commitment to transparency, accountability, and improved welfare for workers across the state.
