Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has presented two new air-conditioned 50-seater buses to the State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The presentation is coming on the heels of an earlier presentation of commuter buses to convey civil servants to and from work, improving the conditions of the workers, provision of bags of rice and increasing workers’ salaries by 15 percent in January this year.

Presenting the vehicles to the leadership of the State Congress headed by Comrade Patrick Obianyo yesterday at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Governor Obiano recalled that he had previously presented a vehicle to the Union, stressing that the buses would enhance the activities of the Congress towards promoting the welfare of workers.

Said he: “We had earlier given them one bus. We are simply responding to their request. They complained that when their leaders attend Labour meetings at the national level, they watch their colleagues from other states arrive in their official vehicles while the Anambra chapter arrives in a hired bus. I won’t accept that. We had to do something about that.”

Responding to the governor’s kind gesture, the Chairman, Anambra State chapter of the NLC, Comrade Obianyo, recalled that when Obiano was running for election, “he promised that he would not only fix our roads and other infrastructure, but that he would also fix human beings. He has demonstrated it in all ramifications.”

Comrade Obianyo added: “What he has done here today has never happened before in the history of organised labour in Anambra State. He has given NLC a vehicle, given one to Joint Negotiating Council and one to the TUC. This is unusual. We are very happy about it. We are grateful to him.”

Comrade Obianyo assured the governor that workers in the state would reciprocate the kind gestures with greater productivity. Narrating a brief history of organised labour in the state, he said: “It might interest you to note that no governor has ever given one bag of rice to the entire workforce in Anambra State and Governor Obiano has done that in just one year. If the governor can show so much concern in just one year, you can then imagine what we should expect in the coming years. Now we are convinced that Anambra State is blessed.”

In his own remarks, the Head of Service of Anambra State, Mr. Chidi Ezeoke, expressed gratitude to the governor for his kind gesture towards the workers, pointing out that the governor is genuinely committed to impacting positively on the lives of the workers and making life more meaningful for Ndi Anambra.

Mr. Ezeoke recalled that Obiano had previously provided vehicles to transport workers to and from work, bags of rice to workers and adjusted their salaries, among others.

•Photo shows, L-R; Comrade Patrick Obianyo, Chairman, Anambra State Chapter of NLC; Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State; and Hon. Chidi Ezeoke, Head of Service, during the presentation of buses to organised labour at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.

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