LOKOJA, Nigeria — The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has accused state governors of neglecting their duties by residing permanently in Abuja, leaving their states in economic distress.
“We have moved to about five zones, Kogi is about the fifth, and we have met governors in only one state,” Ajaero said during a visit to Lokoja for the distribution of CNG buses to the local NLC chapter. “Each time you go there, they are in Abuja, and this is affecting governance.”
Ajaero warned that the absence of governors was depriving citizens of democratic dividends. “People should be able to talk to their leaders,” he added.
The labour leader also rebuked former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello for proscribing labour unions, insisting that governors lacked such authority.
“Union practice falls under the exclusive legislative list in the Constitution. No governor has the power to ban them. You don’t ban what you don’t control,” he said.
Ajaero further lamented that rising living costs were worsening economic hardship, warning that plans to increase tariffs would only escalate the crisis.
