History was made on Wednesday, 21st October, 2015, at the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), South-South Zonal Office, as a local chapter of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) was inaugurated at an event that took place at the Zonal Office Complex located at No. 51, Imgbi Road, Amarata-Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

In his inaugural address, the AUPCTRE Chairman, Bayelsa State Chapter, Comrade Nabodi Elkanah, informed NICO staff members of the zone that he got the direct approval from the National President, Comrade Solomon Adeleke, to inaugurate the NICO SSZ chapter of AUPCTRE and conduct election in the zonal office, as a follow up to a joint discussion he had with NICO AUPCTRE Representative, Comrade Clifford Ugwu and the National President earlier this month at Yenagoa, when the president visited the state.  

He explained that the Local Branch is the primary organ of the Union that helps in speedy handling of members grievances, bringing the Union policies to the grassroots, regulate relations between staffers and their employers, and standing by its members in struggling for their welfare.

He admonished the new EXCO to be up and doing and see unionism as sacrifice and not a money-making venture, advising them not to see Management as their enemy to actualizing workers welfare, adding that, being a union member does not mean negligence of one’s duties, and advising the new EXCO to always contact Bayelsa State AUPCTRE Secretariat first on issues before relating them to Management.

The newly elected EXCO members are Clifford Ugwu (Chairman), Tina Ibegu (Vice Chair Person), Orusoso Opokuma (      General Secretary), Patience Adama  (Treasurer), James Obi (Financial Secretary), and Alex Fedude (Welfare Secretary).

The AUPCTRE Bayelsa State Chapter Chairman, Comrade Nabodi Elkanah and his Secretary, Comrade Dinepiri Torukeregha, with other members of his EXCO, who conducted the inauguration and the election used the opportunity to pay a familiarization visit to the Zonal Director, NICO South-South Zonal Office, Mr. Nelson Ebi Campbell.

The chairman used the opportunity to brief the Director on the activities of the Union in the zone and the Zonal Director in turn appreciated the conduct and maturity of the Union in the zone, giving his assurances to maintain an open door policy to receive AUPCTRE NICO South-South Zone at all times and praying them to always remain focused informing that he was once a unionist.

Egiobu Rex-Ogbuku

Corporate Affairs, NICO SSZ