The Rivers State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly rejected allegations of impropriety made by George Nwaeke, the recently resigned Head of Service of Rivers State.
In a pointed response to Nwaeke’s public statements, the NLC denied claims that State Chairman Alex Agwanwor had engaged in private meetings with Governor Siminalayi Fubara or received any financial inducements. The labour organization described these allegations as “baseless” and “misleading.”
The NLC emphasized its non-partisan stance, stressing that its sole mission is to advocate for workers’ rights and welfare across Rivers State and Nigeria. According to their statement, the leadership under Agwanwor has maintained independence from political influence while focusing exclusively on labour matters.
“The accusations leveled by the former Head of Service are false and defamatory,” the NLC declared, suggesting that such claims appear calculated to undermine the credibility of the labour movement and divert public attention from more critical issues affecting the state.
Reaffirming its commitment to ethical standards, the NLC clarified that its engagements with the state government have been strictly limited to legitimate labour concerns, including workers’ welfare, timely salary payments, and workplace improvements.
The labour congress also addressed the ongoing debate regarding the potential declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, maintaining that its priority remains the protection of workers’ interests rather than political considerations.
In its concluding remarks, the NLC urged Nwaeke and other political figures to keep the union out of their disputes: “We will not be intimidated or coerced into taking sides in political battles. Our primary responsibility is to the workers, and we will continue to champion their cause with integrity and accountability.”
The controversy adds another dimension to the complex political situation in Rivers State, which has intensified following Nwaeke’s resignation.
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