A mass workers’ action is being fine-tuned by the Central Working Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, even as other member units stand alert, including the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), in the event it escalates.

President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, disclosed this in a press statement.

Ayuba revealed that there are infractions against workers’ right by the Rivers State Government, adding that the government has failed to clear the arrears of pension and gratuity indebtedness to the state since 2015.

“These pensioners are dying in droves as a result of neglect,” he claimed.

According to Ayuba, the government of Rivers State under the pretense of conducting structural integrity, vandalized and sealed off the Rivers State NLC secretariat which he described as tyranny against Nigerian workers and organized Labour movement in Nigeria.

The state government was accused of prosecuting the trade union officials in the state.

“The JUSUN chairman in Rivers was abducted, taken to Government house where he was detained and charged in trumped-up criminal charges. While he was being persecuted, he was kidnapped and is yet to be seen till now,” the statement alleged.

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 It’s further alleged that the state government is owing some workers in the state up to 7-month salaries as well as February and March 2016 salaries of teachers in the State which were not paid due to the biometric test ordered by the State Government, while health workers in the state were denied their October 2017 salary due to their participation in the National JOHESU strike.

The statement added that, “since the enactment of the new national minimum wage of N30,000, the state government has deliberately refused to conclude negotiations inconsequential salary adjustment with workers’ organization as well as excluding tertiary institutions from benefitting from any consequential salary adjustment “.

Wabba lamented the use of hired thugs by the state government to disrupt and attack State Executive Council meetings of the Congress in the state; as well as a refusal to remit statutory check-off dues to union and the Labour centers, thereby suffocating trade unions in Rivers State to death in clear violation of Trade Union Act.

The Central Working Committee has therefore directed all union affiliates of the Congress to withdraw their services in the state and put Rivers State completely on industrial Lockdown, effective from 8th September 2020, as well as mobilize members for mass action.

Consequently, Imo State, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Delta states are to join in the protest against Rivers State.

Modinat Eniodunmo

Lagos