The 8th Quadrennial Conference of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Abia state chapter, has ended with Comr Uchenna Obigwe returned as chairman of Abia NLC amidst agitation.
The conference which is an annual event was held at the Kolping Society of Nigeria, Umuahia with over 300 hundred delegates in attendance.
After a keenly contest that ended at about 8:40pm, the incumbent Chairman of the Abia NLC was again returned as the chairman.
Comr Uchenna Obigwe who slugged it out with Comr Eze Idima, took the day with a total votes of 225, leaving Comr Idima with 160 votes.
After being declared winner and sworn in alongside other contestants, Comr Obigwe in his acceptance speech, thanked Abia workers for voting him, promising to hold the affairs of workers with a high esteem, to ensure they are properly taken care of.
He said he would pursue the new minimum wage until it is paid in the state.
Addressing newsmen ,he said the issues of salary arrears owed parastatals and pensioners in the state would be addressed.
According to him, “it is no longer business as usual, we will do things humanly possible to ensure that Abia workers are paid as at when due”.
He pointed out ,that all hands must be on deck to ensure that workers’ benefits are promptly paid.
Meanwhile,some delegates at the conference were agitating that Comr Obigwe should be removed as the chairman as his regime has brought pain,death and abject poverty to workers as well as pensioners,saying Comr Idima is the best candidate to uplift and pilot the affairs of workers better.
The election,however, enthroned the following officers:
