The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised alarm over the increasing trend of state governors abandoning their states to reside permanently in Abuja, leaving citizens to grapple with worsening economic conditions and governance deficits.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, voiced these concerns during a town hall meeting with workers at the NLC Secretariat in Lokoja, Kogi State. The gathering was part of a leadership visit to commission 10 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses allocated to the state chapter to ease transportation difficulties.
Ajaero decried the absence of state governors, noting that during visits to five different zones, only one governor was available to engage with the people.
“Most governors now live permanently in Abuja. Whenever you visit their states, they are nowhere to be found. Governance is suffering because leaders are disconnected from the realities of their people. Democracy should not be practiced from the comfort of luxury in the capital; leaders must be present to feel and address the struggles of their citizens,” Ajaero declared.
The town hall provided a platform for workers to voice their grievances, which Ajaero pledged to relay to Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo—if he was available.
In addition to governance concerns, the NLC President condemned the previous administration of Governor Yahaya Bello for proscribing labour unions in state-owned tertiary institutions. He described the move as unconstitutional, emphasizing that labour unions fall under the Exclusive Legislative List, beyond the powers of any state government.
“No governor has the authority to ban unions. Labour unions are registered at the national level and only have branches in states. You cannot outlaw what you do not control,” Ajaero asserted.
For over a decade, unions at Kogi State Polytechnic, Kogi State University, and other state-owned colleges of education, technology, and nursing have remained banned, depriving workers of their rights to collective bargaining.
During the session, workers lamented the long-standing neglect of their welfare, citing the non-implementation of annual salary increments, lack of housing for workers, and a critical shortage of teachers in primary and junior secondary schools.
Ajaero emphasized Kogi State’s significance to the labour movement, given that both Governor Ododo and his deputy have backgrounds in union leadership. He urged them to uphold the principles of labour advocacy and address workers’ demands.
“We are here to remind our former comrades in leadership that governance is about service, and workers’ welfare must remain a top priority,” he said.
The NLC’s visit to Kogi is part of a nationwide effort to assess workers’ conditions across states and push for improved welfare amid Nigeria’s deepening economic crisis.
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