The Rivers State Chapter of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the weekend in Port Harcourt re-elected its chairman, Comrade Mrs. Beatrice Itubo for a four year second tenure with overwhelming majority votes to beat her sole challenger, Comrade Henry Urombo of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Servants, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).
The election held at the Hotel Presidential, Port- Harcourt and was considered as peaceful by stakeholders despite the tension it generated before the election proper due to the eligibility of Mrs. Itubo as a retired official.
Apart from Itubo getting re-electioned, Comrade Emecheta Chukwu was returned unchallenged as the First Vice Chairman, Comr. Temple Morfford as the Second Vice Chairman, while Comrade Eze Awashi was returned as the Treasurer.
The NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Waba was represented at the event by the president of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUTAE), Comrade Ben Nwabue while a representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour observed the proceedings.
In her acceptance speech, the NLC boss, Beatrice Itubo extended her hands of fellowship to her opponent and assured Rivers Workers that she would not betray the confidence reposed in her and her Exco.
She promised a tougher struggle ahead in her second tenure especially now that she is retired from the civil servant but employed by her Union – The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN). Mrs. Itubo however solicited for the support of all members of the congress to move the organized labour in the state to the next level.
Earlier during the opening session of the state delegation conference, Comr. Itubo stressed the need for peace and unity during and after the conference and urged delegates to freely elect officials of their choice who will defend the interest of Rivers workers without fear of intimidation.
She also used the opportunity to enumerate the achievements of the out gone executives in the last four years to include successful negotiations with companies in the state on behalf of their staff, litigation at the National Industrial Court on behalf of teachers of Demonstration Secondary School who were retrenched by the Rivers State Government, successful push for the amendment of the Pension Reform Law of Rivers State and the building of an Ultra Modern Secretariat for Rivers NLC by the state government.
The business session of the conference witnessed the presentation and adoption of the credentials committee report, the Executive Council report, the financial report and the dissolution of the former State Administrative Council (SAC).
