The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Delta State Council, has conferred its Distinguished Service Award on the Executive Chairman of Aniocha North Local Government, Hon. Emmanuel Bazim Chinye, in recognition of his outstanding commitment to workers’ welfare, prompt payment of salaries and dedication to the development of the Local Government Service.
The prestigious award was presented to the Council Chairman on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, during the “Thank You Visit” of the National Treasurer of NULGE in Nigeria, High Comrade Ziko Okwudi, to the workers of Aniocha North Local Government Council at the Comrade Collins Ogwugwua NULGE Event Centre, Issele-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha North Local Government Area.
The award, which attracted loud applause from the gathering, was formally presented to Hon. Chinye by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State Council, High Comrade Dr. Goodlock Oforbrouku, on behalf of the State Executive Council of NULGE.
Presenting the award, the State President of NULGE, Delta State, Comrade Ogberetitinor Obatarhe,
commended Hon. Chinye for providing an enabling platform for the National Treasurer to return to his roots, reconnect with the workers and celebrate those who stood by him at the beginning of his union journey.
High Comrade Obartah described the Council Chairman as a humble, accessible and committed leader who had consistently demonstrated uncommon dedication to issues affecting the welfare and wellbeing of workers.
He said the award was not based on sentiments or recommendations from the local NULGE branch, explaining that the State Executive Council had an independent mechanism for assessing the performance of Local Government Chairmen, particularly in the area of workers’ welfare.
According to him, the union deliberately conducted its own independent verification in Aniocha North Local Government Council and found Hon. Chinye worthy of recognition for his commitment to workers.
He disclosed that Aniocha North had, in recent assessments, been singled out among the Local Government Councils in the State for its commitment to staff welfare and prompt payment of salaries, stressing that the Council had earned a reputation as one of the leading councils in the State in meeting its obligations to workers under the leadership of Hon. Emmanuel Bazim Chinye.
The NULGE State President appealed to Hon. Chinye to continue to set the pace and also encourage his colleagues in the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to ensure that workers’ claims were paid as and when due, just as the Aniocha North Council had consistently done.
In his response, Hon. Chinye expressed profound appreciation to the leadership of NULGE for the honour, describing the award as a recognition that would further strengthen his administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers.
He also appreciated the NULGE leadership and workers of the Council for their continued support and cooperation with his administration, noting that the achievements recorded by the Local Government could not have been possible without their commitment and untiring dedication.
The Council Chairman, while reflecting on the life and journey of High Comrade Ziko Okwudi, described his story as one of humble beginnings, perseverance, loyalty, self-belief, kindness and sacrifice.
He urged the gathering to learn from the labour leader’s journey from humble beginnings to his present position as National Treasurer of NULGE, stressing that his achievements were products of character, consistency, loyalty and the determination to make a difference in the lives of others.
Hon. Chinye said he considered Aniocha North Local Government fortunate to have produced a labour leader of High Comrade Okwudi’s calibre, recalling that he first met him at the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) when Okwudi was State President of NULGE before his subsequent elevation to the national level.
He expressed confidence that greater opportunities still awaited the National Treasurer and prayed that God would continue to lift him to higher heights in life.
The Chairman said the greatest lesson in Okwudi’s conduct was that “it is good to be good,” noting that the labour leader had continued to touch lives and demonstrate kindness even when doing so was not convenient.
He observed that such conduct was different from what was often witnessed when people attained positions of authority, stressing that rather than distancing himself from the people and his roots, Okwudi had returned to appreciate and celebrate the workers who supported him at the beginning of his journey.
Hon. Chinye particularly commended the National Treasurer for the unprecedented gesture of empowering workers of Aniocha North, noting that the tangible items presented to the workers would remain memorable for a long time.
He stressed that the gesture was not necessarily borne out of abundance, but was an expression of love, sacrifice, gratitude and appreciation for the people who had been part of his journey.
Describing Okwudi as an embodiment of humility, selflessness and sacrifice, the Council Chairman urged other public officers and leaders to emulate such qualities and always remember the people and institutions that contributed to their growth.
Responding to requests presented by High Comrade Okwudi, Hon. Chinye approved the employment of one of the children of a deceased Council worker, while also assuring the workforce that arrangements would be made for the construction of a befitting staff canteen for workers of the Local Government Council within the next one month.
On the request concerning a second tenure for Councillors, the Chairman assured the gathering that he would champion the matter before the appropriate leaders in the various wards.
He reaffirmed that his administration would, by the grace of God, continue to prioritise workers’ welfare and create an environment where employees could discharge their responsibilities with greater confidence and dignity.
Hon. Chinye also attributed the progress recorded by Aniocha North Local Government Council to the uncommon support of the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, and urged the workers to continue to support the Governor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates.
Earlier, High Comrade Ziko Okwudi, National Treasurer of NULGE, expressed appreciation to the Executive Chairman, the NULGE leadership and the entire workforce for the warm reception accorded him during the visit.
He described the visit as a homecoming and an opportunity to identify with the workers and the environment where his journey in unionism began, stressing that he had not forgotten the people who stood by him during the early stages of his career.
The renowned labour leader, at the event, publicly acknowledged and recognized three workers whom he commended for their absolute loyalty, and commitment to him and his vision over the years.
In appreciation of their dedication, he presented each of them with a cash award of ₦500,000, expressing his profound gratitude for their exceptional belief in his leadership.
Okwudi had also used the occasion to appreciate the workforce through an empowerment raffle Draw where many of the workers emerged beneficiaries of household items valued at over ₦10 million, as part of his expression of gratitude for their support and solidarity.
The Chairman of the NLC, Delta State Council, High Comrade Dr. Goodlock Oforbrouku, who formally presented the Distinguished Service Award to Hon. Chinye, congratulated the Council Chairman and described the recognition as a fitting acknowledgement of his consistent commitment to workers.
High Comrade Oforbrouku noted that the award was particularly significant because it was presented in the presence of workers and labour leaders who had witnessed the Council Chairman’s approach to workers’ welfare.
He commended Hon. Chinye for his accessibility and willingness to engage with workers and labour leaders, stressing that responsible leadership was demonstrated not only through policies and programmes but also through the manner in which workers were treated.
The NLC Delta State Chairman further commended the Executive Chairman for sustaining a cordial relationship with organised labour and for creating room for constructive engagement on issues affecting the workforce.
Also speaking, the Head of Personnel Management of Aniocha North Local Government Council, Mrs Elizabeth Ojefia, congratulated Hon. Chinye on the award and described it as a well-deserved recognition of his positive disposition towards the workforce.
She noted that the Chairman’s open-door leadership style and concern for workers had contributed significantly to the cordial industrial relationship existing between the Council administration and the organised labour unions.
Mrs Ojefia also commended High Comrade Okwudi for remembering his roots and returning to appreciate the workers who supported him at the beginning of his union career, describing the gesture as a powerful example of gratitude and responsible leadership.
The Branch Chairman of NULGE in Aniocha North Local Government Council, Comrade Collins Ogwugwua, equally congratulated Hon. Chinye, saying the award was a reflection of the Chairman’s consistency in placing workers’ welfare high on the administration’s agenda.
Comrade Ogwugwua expressed appreciation to the National Treasurer for the empowerment initiative and the decision to return to Aniocha North to celebrate the workers, describing the gesture as a demonstration of loyalty to one’s roots and appreciation for collective support.
He also commended the Executive Chairman for providing the enabling environment for the successful hosting of the historic visit and for maintaining a relationship with the union founded on mutual respect and understanding.
The ceremony also featured a raffle draw organised as part of the activities marking the National Treasurer’s Thank You Visit.
Hon. Chinye performed the symbolic kick-off of the raffle by personally picking the first draw, which produced Mrs. Anamonye as the winner of the First Prize a Deep Freezer, to the excitement of the workers.
The event therefore combined recognition, appreciation, empowerment and celebration, with the Distinguished Service Award to Hon. Chinye serving as a major highlight of the occasion and further reinforcing the cordial relationship between the Aniocha North Local Government Council administration and organised labour.
C. W. Ugbolue
