The Abia State Government has defended it’s stance on the directive for the online upload of workers’ credentials, urging the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state to engage the government regarding any worker-related issues before resorting to other platforms.
The statement is coming on the heels of an interview granted by the leadership of the NLC where it accused the State Government of conducting endless Worker’s Verification Exercises.
Recall that the NLC had also instructed Civil and Public Servants in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) not to participate in the online submission of requisite documents as mandated by the State Government.
But, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu in a press briefing on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council Meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti, frowned at the development.
Prince Kanu who clarified that contrary to NLC’s views, the issue of online upload of Workers Credentials had nothing to do with verification, criticized the NLC for what he described as a tendency to rush to the media with complaints rather than utilizing their direct access to government.
“We believe that the NLC in Abia State has not been fair to this government, and this a government that has been committed to addressing the welfare of Àbia Workers.
“This culture of rushing to the media to go and speak about the government or say things that are not quite ‘palatable’, is not a very good one.
“It’s not one that would promote a good working relationship between the NLC and the state government.
“As an institution, the NLC has access to government, unimpeded access, and as such, if there’s any issue or problem or some ideas that they need to provide, I still believe NLC has access to government to make their views known.
“The NLC going back to associate upload of credentials with verification, I don’t think it is the right thing to do“, Kanu stated.
Prince Kanu flanked by the SA to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma and the DG, Greater Aba Development Agency, Mr Uche Ekwuribe
The Commissioner while noting that the state government is dedicated to improving Worker’s
welfare, emphasized that the online upload of workers credentials was as a result of government’s discovery of lack of requisite qualifications by some civil servants.
He explained that the verification process uncovered that some Civil servants do not possess the necessary qualifications for their positions which raised concerns about how they were hired and subsequently promoted over the years.
“The Government discovered that some people don’t possess the right credentials and it was because some appointments were supposed to be made.
“The Governor asked that the files of workers be looked through and those who are qualified to take up those positions let their papers be brought forward.
“It was during that process it was discovered that a lot of people didn’t have their credentials Every body was wondering how these people got into the service and over the years got promotions.
“So I believe that those explanations were very clear and clear enough for the NLC leadership in the state”.
The Commissioner noted that although the issue of verification might not have been 100 percent successful because of some hiccups experienced, no worker who has undergone the process is been owed.
“If people are owed today,it is either as a result of issues they have with their bank or some other issues , but nothing that has to do with some people are being punished. The State Government didn’t single out anybody to be punished”, Prince Kanu clarified.
He therefore called for a more cooperative approach between the NLC and the government to resolve any issues geared towards improving the welfare of workers in the state and urged the NLC to “look back and retrace their steps”.
