The Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has denied the allegation against its chairman, Comrade Chris Oruge (JP) describing the report as “untrue, baseless, unfounded and characterized with malicious tendencies and falsehood”
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Chairman on Media and Publicity, Mr. Tonye Orabere and made available to newsmen the Congress reaffirms that “Chief Chris Oruge remains the chairman of the NLC, Rivers State Council and will continue to pilot the affairs of the Council until the end of his tenure in April, 2015.”
The Congress maintained that the misunderstanding between Comrade (Dr) Oruge and his union, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) is an internal affairs of the union and does not
have anything to do with his leadership of the NLC.
According to the statement, “Labour perceives the rumours making the rounds against the chairman as tacit demonstration of some politicians who are desperate on dragging NLC into politics in order to be relevant and as well gain cheap popularity in the process”.
The statement recalled that. Comrade Oruge served as the NUT chairman from March 2001 to May 2009 and that there was no indictment whatsoever either financially or administratively on him expressing surprise over the fraud allegation when he had since left office.
The Congress urged the general public to disregard the report, adding that a situation where journalism practice disregards its ethics of balancing a newstory before going to the press is fast eroding the public confidence. Meanwhile, in his reaction on some topical issues, Dr. Chris Oruge said the NLC enjoys functional and healthy relationship with the present administration of Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
On the Judiciary Workers strike the chairman said the Congress is in full support of their action because the workers can no longer bear the brunt of the damages on Okechi and Ahoada courts by hoodlums.
While appreciating the pathetic effect of the workers’ strike on the society, the chairman, said he had expected the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to approach the NLC for a way forward.
However, in his own opinion, Chief Oruge stated that it would be advisable the National Judiciary Council (NJC) to withdraw the controversial letter appointing Justice Daisy Okocha as an Administrative Judge, to make room for meaningful negotiation.
On the payment of pension to retirees, the NLC boss disclosed that something is being done in that direction, adding that the problem was when the pensioners were trying to force RSG to pay them both state and federal quota of the money and the governor refused, saying that it is not his responsibility.
On the allegation of State Government penchant for constant borrowing of money while the Congress looks the other way, Chief Oruge said “NLC is not aware of any loan taken by the RSU except the N100 billion which is meant for the completion of on-going projects in. the state.
“In any case, he noted, most states in the federation are in the same tight financial situation and are even owing salaries”. The chairman disclosed that the RSG monthly allocation has dropped from N20 billion to N13 billion making it difficult to attend to priority projects and policies.
He also stated that if a government is making some savings and at a point decides to use same, there is no crime in that.
The chairman made it clear that the World Bank issue is not borrowing perse because before one draws down, there is procedure to follow. He used the opportunity to appeal for cooperation with the state Government in the interest of all. ###
