13 Oct NATIONAL LOTTERY REGULATORY COMMISSION STAFF JOIN LABOUR UNION

The management of National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC) has unionized its staff. 

Coming under the auspice of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), the NLRC chapter which is expected to midwife all welfare issues of staff such as salaries, allowances and benefits, was inaugurated recently. 

Speaking at the inauguration held at National Lottery Regulatory Commission headquarters in Abuja, the Director General of National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Mr. Adolphus Joe Ekpe welcomed the representatives of the Association. 

Ekpe, who stated that the purpose of any union was to improve the welfare of its’ members, promised management’s cooperation with the Union to improve the welfare of the Commission’s staff. According to Ekpe, it’s only when the staff are united that they can achieve their objectives. He said the Association was for the good of staff as it intended to improve their wellbeing and Nigeria as a whole. 

Also speaking at the occasion, the Director of Administration and Finance, Adamu Muhammad Sifawa expressed happiness that several interactions between the management and the union have ended harmoniously. He pointed out that the aim of any union was to make sure that staff benefit immensely from it.

He said the union would address issues relating to staff welfare from GL07 and above which, he said, formed the bulk of the staff. Sifawa reassured the staff that they would be carried along so as to benefit optimally from the union.

Addressing the management and staff at the inauguration, Secretary General of ASCSN, Comrade A.B. Lawal gave insight into the distinct nature of the Trade Unions. He further explained that the body would midwife all welfare issues of staff bearing in mind that the interest of the management is different from that of the workers. He said that management always maximize their interests while the workers are after their salaries, allowances and benefits.

Lawal said all efforts must be made to ensure cordial relationship between the management and staff and maximize crisis that might arise.

He stated the union would defend the staff always, adding, “The union should not be seen as an alternative management he said.” 

The climax of the event was the formal presentation of six staff selected by the management to serve as interim executive  committee members of the Commission’s chapter of the union. The executive will hold office for one year or less after which elections would be held to have new officers. 

The interim executives include: Okoro Kalu, Chairman; Linda Okolie, Vice Chairman; Sandra Jacobs, Treasurer; Altine Ijogi, Secretary; and Daniel Peter as member. The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria is affiliated to Trade Union Congress (TUC).

By Bethrand Nwankwo, Victoria Nwabundo, Ifeoma Eze

& Lois Otse Adams