- Lists Fed Reforms, Oborevwori’s People-centred Policies
- Urges Labour Veterans To Serve As Think-Tanks
BY RITA OYIBOKA
The immediate past Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, attributed the state’s stability and progress to federal economic reforms and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s people-centred policies, urging labour veterans to consolidate these gains by using their experience as think-tank for the state and nation.
Former Gov. Okowa gave the charge in Asaba at the inauguration of the Forum of Labour Veterans and Associations, where he served as Chairman of the occasion, describing the body as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
Addressing the gathering, Okowa said that the forum must serve as a bridge between past and present labour leaders, work with serving executives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to advance both workers’ interests and the overall good of the state.
The former governor took the audience down memory lane to the fiscal crisis that greeted his administration in 2015, he said, Delta State received N8 billion in his first month in office, out of which N5.2 billion went to servicing existing loans, leaving only N2.8 billion to cover a wage bill of about N7.8 billion. He said, transparency and collaboration with labour during the recession years of 2015 to September 2017 helped the state weather the storm. He affirmed that the current fiscal stability in Delta and across many states was largely due to federal economic reforms and improved allocation. “Today, most local governments receive about four times what they used to receive during our tenure. Many states now receive between three and four times what they used to receive,” he said.
While cautioning against politicising the forum, Okowa emphasised the need for informed discourse. “Many Nigerians are not fully informed. Because we are not fully informed, we find it difficult to make the right decisions… I want to plead with us not to follow the bandwagon. Understand the problems. Understand the challenges. Offer advice,” he said.
He also expressed satisfaction with the performance of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, citing ongoing “big ticket projects” across the state, including flyovers at Uromi Junction in Agbor and Ughelli (Otovwodo), erosion control works and major road projects.
Earlier in his address, the newly inaugurated Chairman of the forum, Comrade Jonathan Ojobu, described the body as a unique platform, made up of senior comrades, who had held leadership positions at local, state and national levels. He said the forum was conceived to harness the wealth of experience of retired labour leaders, noting that retirement should not signal the end of advocacy.
“As soon as a comrade retires, his wealth of experience is no longer tapped. We decided to form this forum so we can draw from their knowledge and work towards the growth and development of the state and nation,” Ojobu said.
He announced plans to inaugurate executive committees across local governments and assured that the forum would review issues “dispassionately and objectively,” offering advice to government where necessary.
“We will not hesitate to give constructive criticisms and suggest the way forward if the need arises. We are not going to praise government for personal interest, but for the overall benefit of Deltans,” he added.
In his remark at the event, the Secretary of the forum and former Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Comrade Tony Toki said, the forum could not have come at a better time when labour unions need greater cohesion and called for ideas that would help government tackle some pressing challenges.
In his goodwill message, the Delta State Chairman of the TUC, Comrade Wilson Asekutu, pledged a robust partnership between serving labour leaders and the veterans, describing the inauguration as a landmark step towards strengthening industrial harmony and policy engagement in the state.
A key highlight was the inauguration of the forum’s executives: Comrade Jonathan Ojobu (Chairman); Comrade Zion Akoyere (Deputy); Comrade (Mrs.) Akpokirise Lizzy (1st Vice); Comrade (Barr.) Odigwe Anthony (2nd Vice); Comrade Igho Emuophedare (3rd Vice); Comrade Tony Toki (Secretary); Comrade (Mrs.) Bennet Margaret (Woman Leader); Comrade (Mrs.) Chiazor Lizzy (Treasurer), and Comrade Lucky Afure Oki (PRO).
