By Douglas Princemola
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has honoured the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, with the Pacesetter Award in recognition of policies introduced by his administration to improve the welfare and working conditions of local government employees in the state.
The award was presented during the 2026 NULGE Week celebration held at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, popularly known as Heroes Square, in Owerri. The event attracted local government workers, labour leaders, government officials and invited guests who gathered to celebrate the contributions of grassroots public servants to governance and development.
Speaking during the ceremony, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Aliyu Haruna Kankara, commended the governor for policies aimed at improving workers’ welfare. Representing the union and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress led by Joe Ajaero, Kankara said the steps taken by the Imo State Government have helped improve the morale of local government workers.
He praised the decision of the state government to approve and implement a minimum wage of ₦104,000 for local government workers in Imo State, which is higher than the national minimum wage benchmark. According to him, workers in the state have described the development as a living wage capable of improving their standard of living.
Earlier in his remarks, the Imo State President of NULGE, Comrade Charles Okechukwu Okere, said the award was presented to appreciate the governor for his support for local government workers. He listed some of the policies introduced by the administration to include the lifting of the embargo on promotions that had accumulated since 2014, the approval of double promotions for qualified workers and the regular payment of salaries.
Okere also noted that the introduction of the 13th month salary and other welfare packages has improved the confidence of workers and strengthened their relationship with the state government. He said the union considered the governor’s actions as evidence of attention to the well-being of local government employees.
The celebration formed part of activities marking the 2026 NULGE Week in Imo State, an annual programme organized to recognize the role of local government workers and promote unity within the union. The event featured a march past by workers from the various local government areas, cultural displays and other activities.
One of the highlights of the event was a raffle draw organized for workers. Twenty-seven local government workers, representing the twenty-seven local government areas in Imo State, were selected and each received the sum of one million naira from the governor in recognition of their dedication to duty.
The star prize of the raffle draw was won by Mrs. Nkechi Geraldine Ogueri from Owerri North Local Government Area. She received five million naira and a brand new refrigerator as part of the rewards presented during the celebration.
As part of the activities, the leadership of the Imo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees presented a cow to Governor Hope Uzodimma during the ceremony.
In his response after receiving the award, the governor thanked the union for the honour and said the implementation of the ₦104,000 minimum wage was aimed at restoring dignity to government workers and encouraging them to remain committed to their responsibilities.
He stated that supporting workers is part of the responsibility of government and noted that public servants play an important role in the implementation of government policies and programmes. He also urged local government workers to remain diligent in their duties and avoid corrupt practices.
Uzodimma added that the state government will continue to introduce policies that improve service delivery and promote development across Imo State while sustaining economic growth through increased internally generated revenue and responsible management of public resources.
He also urged the workers to continue supporting the administration of Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the policies of the federal government are aimed at strengthening the nation’s economy and improving the welfare of citizens.
