By Patrick Ochei
The incumbent Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Delta State Council, Comrade Chief Goodluck Ofobruku has been re-elected a second time in office.
The Urhobo born Labour leader was returned unopposed at the 9th Delegates Conference of the Congress recently at the Labour House in Asaba.
Ofobruku appreciated the delegates for believing in him to be returned a second term in office, promising not to take the confidence reposed in him for granted.
He pledged to continue to fight for the welfare of workers in the State, especially as it concerns salaries, promotions and pensions.
However, he scored the Governor Okowa led administration high in cordial working relationship with the Labour Force, insisting that the Governor had done well over 70 percent in fulfilling most of the demands of workers in the State.
He therefore, took time to elucidate on the Governor’s promptness in payment of salaries from inception, irrespective of the then economic crunch, including attending to workers’ promotions and other sundry issues like payment of salaries and promotions arrears.
Ofobruku equally, eulogized the Governor for offsetting over #70 billion out of the #78 billion pension arrears owed retirees, while at the same time assisting the Local Governments to pay salaries and clear part of her pension arrears.
Declaring the Delegates Conference open, the Head of Service of the State, Mr. Reginald Bayoko, ably represented by the Functioning Permanent Secretary in Establishment and Pensions, Mr. Kingsley Umukoro affirmed that Delta State Government was pleased with Labour as an entity.
The HOS said the Government would continue to support the workers by meeting up with their demands in as much as they continue to enjoy their cooperation and cordiality towards a progressive civil service.
He reminded them of the recent accomplishment of Government towards the demand of Labour, which is upscaling of the retirement age of teachers from 60-65, including that of the non teaching staff of the State Colleges of Education and Polytechnics.
The Delegates Conference which ratified the harmonisation report on the election of the State Executive of NLC, however, returned Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku as Chairman, Comrade Ziko Osita Okwudi as 1st Vice Chairman, Comrade Alice Jegede as 2nd Vice Chairman, Comrade Okotie Titus as Treasurer and others.
