Anambra Lawmaker’s behaviour slammed as “toutish” by NLC, TUC

By Tony Okafor, Awka

The Anambra State chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have condemned the behaviour of lawmaker Tony Muobike, representing Aguata 2 constituency, as “dishonorable” and “lacking qualities of a legislator”.

The unions accused Muobike of molesting workers during a picketing exercise at the state House Assembly Complex on Monday, as part of a nationwide strike over minimum wage and other demands from the federal government.

According to the unions, Muobike allegedly told workers they did not deserve higher pay and would soon be replaced by robots.

However, Muobike denied making such statements, claiming he was simply trying to address the protesters in a peaceful manner.

The unions have demanded an apology from Muobike for his “unruly behavior” and “dehumanizing utterances”.

In a statement, they described his actions as “toutish” and “immature”, showing a disconnect between him and his constituency.

The unions have called on Muobike to apologize for his behaviour, which they saw as sabotage against the labour unions’ struggle to alleviate hardship on Nigerians.

The organised labour in a statement jointly signed by the state secretaries of NLC and TUC Comrades, Gaius Chukuka and Alex C. Ebi( a lawyer), respectively described the lawmaker’s behaviour as weird.

The workers’ statement read in part,”The Organized Labour Anambra State wishes to set the record straight on what transpired between the organized Labour Anambra state and House of Assembly members on the 3rd day of June, 2024.

“Before now, Organized Labour was silent on the dehumanizing utterances of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA Lawmaker representing Aguata 2 Constituency, Hon Anthony Muobike who we all knew how he ascended into the House of Assembly until we started reading thrash on the social media for his indefensible act on aggrieved Anambra workers.

“His immature attitude shows the disconnect between him and his Constituency. Without cause he callously accused Anambra workers as not deserving a minimum wage and could be replaced by Robots.

“The question was, were the workers protesting against Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the state governor he was allegedly defending? He is totally dishonorable and lacking all the qualities of a Lawmaker in modern times to have uttered such gutter words.

“Recall that the declaration of indefinite strike by the Organized Labour at the National, NLC/TUC Communique dated 31st March 2024 directing all affiliates Union to embark on indefinite strike over issues bordering on hike in Electricity tariff and New National Minimum wage

“The organized labour Anambra state were on a peaceful monitoring to ensure total compliance that all public offices were closed. On getting to the Anambra House of Assembly complex, we discovered that there were activities going on in the complex with their access gate wide open.

Continuing the workers said,”The problem started when the members of the congress were chanting a solidarity song demanding that the complex should be shut down as Anambra state is not an exception.

“We were surprised over the reaction of Hon. Anthony Muobike, member Representing Aguata 2 Constituency this morning in a media reportage this morning that the organized labour Anambra state came to Assembly complex with destructive objects and cane which is now a confirmation to a statement credited to him already on media reportage of how he threatened and treated the Anambra state workers with contempt.

“He, even went to the extent of calling out the President of Nigeria Union of local Government Employees Comrade Chikwelu Samson Adigwe with fictitious claim against his person.

“Why threatening workers led by their leaders of physical violence? It shows his level of intolerance and toutish behaviour in the face of people with genuine demands and a nationwide protest.’

“It is quite unfortunate and if Hon. Anthony Muobike is honourable as claimed, he should be apologizing to Nigerians and workers of Anambra state over his sabotage on the struggle of the labour unions to elevated hardship on Nigerians.”