The Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Rivers State Council, has expressed delight over the emergence of new national officers to pilot the affairs of the union in the next four years, with a charge to them to surpass the achievements of the immediate past leadership of the union under the watch of Chief (Comrade) Lawrence Uchechukwu Amaechi.
This is even as the new National President of the union, Comrade Sunday Oluwole has extended the olive branch to some aggrieved members of the union as a way of fostering peace, unity, oneness and harmony within the union.
The Rivers State Chairman of the union, Comrade Chukwuka Osumah, who spoke with newsmen in Port Harcourt said the 12th delegates conference of the union last week Tuesday, in Abuja, which brought on board the national officers was a consensus exercise, and thanked God for a successful on time inspite of some initial challenges.
While expressing confidence in the capacity of the new elected national officers to effectively discharge their duties, Osumah enjoined them to surpass the achievements of their predecessors, stressing that the union does not expect less from them.
According to him, all the NAC members are well known to him as he could also vouch for their capabilities.
The union leader, however, asserted that the Comrade Amaechi-led National Administrative Council left worthy legacies which the present NAC members need to emulate and even surpasses.
He cited a massive estate constructed for members of the union by the former leadership, and called on present NAC to emulate the footsteps of the remarkable performance and achievements of its predecessor.
Osumah further expressed joy that a son of Rivers State in the person of Comrade Peaceman Horsfall was elected as the National Auditor of the union, describing his choice as a great privilege stressing that the 36 states in the country were lucky to be so elected to be part of the present NAC, and expressed optimism that he National Auditor was going to make Rivers people proud.
The NCSU Chairman extolled the sterling leadership qualities of the immediate past National president of the union, Comrade Lawrence Uchechukwu Amaechi, describing him as a true father indeed, who has listening ears.
He further indicated that it is rare to see a leader like that former National President, whom he said carried all the union members along, and equally took phone calls of everyone even at the risk of his own comfort.
On his part, Rivers State Secretary of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuma Ofoegbu paid glowing tributes to the Comrade Amaechi-led NAC, and congratulated the new national officers on their successful election.
Ofoegbu expressed happiness that the union was able to successfully organize the conference and charged the new leaders to always toe the path of peace and harmony as well as carry all members along in the scheme of things.
He particularly commended the National President Emeritus for his exemplary leadership qualities, which ensured that the union was able to achieve set goals during his administration.
In his acceptance speech, the new National President of the union, Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday commended the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba for his solidarity and fence-mending efforts towards the union, describing the beginning of the struggles which finally culminated in his emergence as a long walk to victory.
The National President, while extending the olive branch to all aggrieved and dischanted members of the union, pleaded with them to come back home for an amicable resolution of the issues as a one big family, and assured that the present NAC would pursue peace by bringing everybody on board.
He also promised that his administration would ensure that the rights and privileges of members are restored in the interest of peace and oneness.
Among other officers elected at the conference include Comrade Okwchukwu Egwumba, National Deputy President; Comrade Jibrin K. Bancir, Deputy National Presidents, Comrade Ibrahim A Bomoi, General Secretary; Comrade Jerome A. Ilokwu, National Vice President (South-East); Comrade Alice Odjeri, National Vice President (South-South); and Comrade Peaceman Horsfall, National Auditor.
Others are Comrade Kabiru Kwaru, National Auditor; and Comrade Lydia O. Agaji, Chairperson, Women Commission; among others.
Top dignitaries who graced the occasion include the President of NLC, Comrade Yuba Wabba; representative of the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Bosede Olaniyi; and the Registrar of Trade Union, among others.
