Ayade Gets NULGE Award, Endorsed for Second Term

Bassey Inyang In Calabar
The national body of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) on Tuesday conferred an award of excellence as well as endorsed the Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade for a second term in office.

The union conferred the award on Ayade at a rally held at Government House field in Calabar, where the governor received its highest national award.

The workers who were drawn from all the eighteen branches of the state, and the zonal, and national offices, said they were endorsing Ayade for a second term because he has done well for the union.
The placards they carried also reflected messages of the endorsement of Ayade for a second term, such as “Labour Supports Destination Ayade 2019 to 2023; NULGE: Endorsement 2019 Ayade Is Working Cross River State Is Changing; Our Digital Governor a Friend of Labour.”

Speaking on behalf of members of the union, the National President of NULGE, Mr. Ibrahim kalil said from available facts , it was obvious Ayade was outstanding in attending positively to the needs of workers in the local government service.
“We are one of the most vibrant union in the country, and for us to come here today appreciating you to come out in 2019, you should know we are genuine. We are happy for your prompt payment of salaries and promoting of local government workers when your colleagues in other places are busy downsizing.

“In Kaduna many of our colleagues were sacked, hence we are appreciating governor Ayade because he is friendly to workers in Cross River state. The discrimination in our system is so much hence people are going away and they don’t even allow you to grow but Cross River State is not so…here we are pampered.”
Buttressing their seriousness in support of the governor for a second term, Kalil said: “We call on you to declare that you will run again in 2019 and we come here bearing in mind you will accept our request, and if you refuse, we will come back in large number to show anger”.

The NULGE at the event bestowed on the governor the union’s “award of excellence” which Kalil described as the highest award of the union.
The NULGE National President said the award was conferred on the governor after a committee set up by the union submitted its report indicating that Ayade was worthy of the honour for his excellent performance in the state.
Ayade who was apparently elated by the endorsement, tacitly indicated that he would heed their call to cast his hat into the ring in 2019, and praised himself for the achievement recorded by his administration.
“2019 has come and gone today…I too much, I too much….
“We are doing projects that are bigger than our purse. I mean well, if you are a super star, it is how you end that matter but not how you started.”

Ayade who kept hailing himself by chanting the word “digital, digital, digital” amidst cheers from the teachers said the award from the union would inspire him to do more for workers in the local government system in the state.
“Today you have inspired and made me proud, I will keep my words. Today we shall reintroduce a proper impress to councils. I am going to set aside the sum of N500 million for any member (NULGE) who wants to go into farming, we will give you interest free soft loan…you know Ayade is talk and do….
“The truth is that we must take the local government to a different level, we thank NULGE for this show of love.”

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