Strike: Abia NLC Shuns Ikpeazu, Meets With Otti

The leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abia state has shunned meeting with the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu but instead, met with the governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti who is yet to be inaugurated as governor of the state.

The meeting was aimed at charting means to resolve the ongoing strike by NLC in the state. The workers are pressing for payment of their outstanding salaries and pensions.

The national leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had in February declared an indefinite strike in Abia State to compel Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, to offset the arrears of salaries, pensions and retirement benefits owed civil servants.

However, the union suspended the action, about five days later, after it reached an agreement with the state government.

The NLC on Friday met with the Governor-Elect of the state, Dr. Alex Otti, on ways to call off the strike at his home town Isialangwa.

According to Kazie Uko, Abia NLC leadership, led by its chairman, Comrade Pascal Nweke, left the meeting with a promise to revert to Dr. Otti, who will be formally inaugurated on Monday, May 29, 2023 as the governor of the state, after it had consulted its national leadership.

Otti had while meeting with the Labour officials reiterated his campaign promise to prioritise the issue of salary payments as well as ensure that the arrears are cleared within the shortest time possible.

The meeting between Dr. Otti and the Abia labour came barely two days after the Alex Otti Inauguration Committee briefed journalists on the preparation towards the inauguration of Dr. Otti as the 10th Governor of the State.

The Committee chairman, Hon Iheanacho Obioma, had called on the union to call off the strike as a sign of good faith and support to the incoming Labour Party (LP) administration.