By Austin Ogwuda

ASABA-CHAIRMAN of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Delta State, comrade Mike Okeme, is bowing out of office, having served out his tenure, but he is currently angling for a commissionership position in the next dispensation of incumbent Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, if the governor succeeds in his second term bid at the polls coming up later this month.

Okeme succeeded the former Chairman of the state NLC, comrade Ovuzourie Macaulay, who also upon completion of his (Macaulay) tenure was appointed as a Commissioner in the state.

Inside source hinted Vanguard yesterday that “Okeme as a friend of the governor is quarter to being compensated for not rocking the boat during his tenure as the NLC chairman. He may possibly get a commissionership position,” said the source.

 Okeme  had on Monday this week paid a farewell visit to the governor at Government House, Asaba, pouring encomiums on the governor, commending him  for his labour friendly qualities.

He further expressed appreciation to the state government for the various training programmes approved for labour leaders and workers to update their knowledge.

Responding, Governor Uduaghan commended the out-going NLC boss for using dialogue as a tool for conflict resolution, acknowledging the fact that a good rapport actually existed between the state government and NLC which paved way for industrial harmony that reigned in the state for the past eight years.

“The Chairman worked well with the state government, he was always in constructive engagement especially on how to solve labour problems and he achieved results,” the governor said.

The governor also used the opportunity to promise the labour union in the state that he was willing  to pay the new minimum wage of N18,000 to public servants in the state.

But he however appealed to the Federal Government to work out a new revenue formula so that states will have the capacity to pay the minimum wage.