From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given a 14-day ultimatum to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, to restore elected officials of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE).
The union also asked the governor to direct its officers who had illegally taken over the NULGE secretariat in Umuahia to vacate without delay and make a public statement recognising the elected union officials led by Ikechi Nwaigwe as the authentic NULGE officials in the state.
NLC equally urged him to release all withheld check-off dues accruing to NULGE which has not been paid to the union since he assumed office and pay appropriate interest on the total sum.
In a letter addressed to Governor Otti and signed by the National President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC said it was deeply concerned about a report communicated to it by national leadership of NULGE over the illegal dissolution of its elected officials and appointment of caretaker committee by the state government.
It also condemned what it described as the punitive transfer of the elected state president of Abia NULGE, Comrade Ikechi Nwaigwe, from the local government service to the state civil service.
Reacting, the state government said the ultimatum was misplaced as it never removed any NULGE official.