The Cross River State chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have endorsed the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade for the 2019 governorship election.
State chapter chairmen of the NLC, Mr. John Ushie and his counterpart in TUC, Mr. Clerks Otu said during their addresses to mark the 2018 Workers’ Day celebration in Calabar that they endorsed the governor for a second term because of his impressive performance in office since he was sworn in on May 29, 2015.
“Since the inception of the current administration workers have always received their salaries in advance.
“In view of what you have done so far in Cross River State since your assumption of office on May 29, 2015 in the area of socio-economic, political and manpower development as attested by many, and in view of your workers-friendly posture, we the workers of Cross River State have viewed critically the options open to us and our future, and have agreed on this day to massively support your second term in office.
“Indeed, as a new minimum wage is being proposed, we know that only you can and have the capacity to pay us our salaries without fail. We therefore urge you to bid for a second term in office come 2019 general election,” said Ushie
For his part, Otu lauded the governor for providing employment opportunities to Cross River citizens through the construction of the Garment Factory, the Calabar Pharmaceutical Factory, Cocoa Processing Plant in Ikom, the ultra-modern rice mill in Ogoja, the Rice Seedlings Centre and some other industries.
Responding, Ayade described his endorsement for the 2019 gubernatorial contest as “humbling’ and promised to continue to give priority to the citizens’ welfare above every other consideration.
“I want to thank you all as workers of Cross River State for finding it necessary to honour me in a day of this nature.
This honour is a commitment; it is a challenge and responsibility on my part to do even more.
“Therefore, your choice of my adoption come 2019 is a clear testimonial that that my philosophy, my focus on the stomach, that I must put food on the table, has worked.
“The only thing I owe society and God is to ensure that these people who have been standing under the sun, who have made the choice of reaffirming their commitment to me in 2019, that at the fullest of time (sic), you will be happy you did,” he said.
