Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has expressed sadness at the death of Nigeria Labour Congress Secretary-General, Emmanuel Ugboaja, describing it as a painful loss to Abia State and labour union.
Governor Otti, who was speaking at a night of tribute for Ugboaja in Umuahia on Friday, noted that Ugboaja's contributions to the labour movement and society would remain a lasting legacy.
The Governor observed that the late Ugboaja was the first and only NLC Secretary-General from Abia State among the five individuals who had occupied the position, describing his emergence as a significant milestone for the State.
"Out of the five Secretaries-General of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja was the only one from Abia State.
"He was the first NLC Secretary-General from our State, and that is a significant achievement.” Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti said the measure of a person's life is not necessarily how long they lived but the quality of their impact and the legacies they left behind.
In his tribute, the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, described Ugboaja as a committed labour leader and a worthy son of the labour movement, recalling their relationship, which dated back to 1993, when both were active in their respective professional and union circles.
He emphasised that the late Ugboaja was a man of conviction who consistently fought for the interests of workers and made meaningful contributions to the growth of organised labour.
Speaking on behalf of the family, the deceased's brother, Mr. Patrick Ugboaja, expressed sadness at the death of his brother.