The Rivers State Council of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Thursday held its Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference in Port Harcourt, during which new executive members were elected to steer the affairs of the congress for the next four years.
Speaking shortly after his swearing-in at the TUC State Secretariat, the newly elected Chairman, Comrade Samuel Daima Ogan, reaffirmed his commitment to prioritizing the welfare and job security of workers in the state.
“As a unionist, our key objectives are to secure and maintain the jobs of our members and to ensure their welfare. Beyond these, I have taken it upon myself as chairman to engage the government constructively—offering advice and collaborating where necessary—to move Rivers State forward,” Ogan said.
Comrade Ogan, who also serves as the Vice Chairman of PENGASSAN’s Petroleum Upstream Sector Branch, emphasized that the TUC under his leadership would advocate for all categories of workers in the state, including domestic staff and security personnel.
“Sometimes people think we only fight for our members. No. I have a vision that every worker in Rivers State—from house helps to security guards—should have a voice. We will work with the government to ensure the minimum wage applies to everyone in that category,” he stated.
On the credibility of the election, Ogan affirmed that the process was in strict compliance with the constitutional provisions of the TUC.
“My election today followed the constitutional provisions of the Trade Union Congress. The TUC National, which is mandated to organize the elections, set up the guidelines that were duly followed. The election was initially scheduled for last month but was postponed to allow for proper alignment and compliance,” he explained.
He added that after screening and consensus meetings among candidates, the process culminated in a transparent election that produced the new leadership.
“When consensus was not reached, we proceeded to the polls, and today, Rivers State has a new set of TUC leaders duly elected through democratic means,” Ogan said.
Also speaking, the newly elected Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Congress, Comrade Innocent Lord Douglas, expressed optimism about the new leadership’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.
“Seeing the calibre of people elected into the executive council, I am confident that this is the best team so far to pilot the affairs of the TUC. From today, you will witness a more vibrant and engaging TUC that will focus on dialogue, improved workers’ welfare, and resistance against intimidation or harassment by companies or government agencies,” Douglas assured.
