May 02, (THEWILL) – Organised Labour in Cross River State has urged the state governor, Professor Ben Ayade, to intervene in the over six Weeks old power blackout in the state.
The state has been in total darkness for over 6 Weeks now, forcing businesses to rely on petrol and diesel.
While Petrol is sold above the official rate of N165, diesel now sells above N800 per litre in the few stations that sell the product.
Organised Labour’s appeal was made during this year’s workers’ day celebration, which had as theme: Labour, politics and the quest for good governance and development in Nigeria.
Drawing the governor’s attention to the plight of the people, the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Monday Ogbodum (KSJI), said it is unimaginable that the state is in darkness, while other states have power supply.
The labour leader also queried the status of the power plant constructed by the state government to supplement power from the national grid.
Comrade Ogbodum (KSJI) said, “Let me use this medium to appeal to His Excellency, to do something about the darkness that has engulfed the state and Calabar in particular.
“It is quite unimaginable. If the problem is the national grid, how come there is light in the neighbouring states.
“What of our own power plant built by His Excellency which was meant to supplement the national grid, something should please be done”, the TUC state chairman said.
He charged workers to participate in politics, take advantage of the 2023 general elections and contribute to the development of the society.
He maintained that it is for this reason the TUC and NLC national leadership set up political commissions across the geopolitical zones with the mandate to mobilise and galvanise all workers towards making the maximum impact in the 2023 general elections.
In his address, the state chairman of NLC, Comrade Ben Ukpepi, said workers and the civil society should join hands with the NLC/TUC to continue to tackle the consequences of labour politics and quest for good governance.
He charged workers to play their part in the creation of a society that removes the obstacles standing between so many of our people and their full participation in governance in Cross River State and beyond.
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
