The Nigeria Labour Congress on Friday came to the rescue of 3,000 workersas they have threatened to paralyse the
activities of the Imo State Government if it failed to recall some workers sacked within 14 days.
A factional leader of the NLC, Joe
Ajaero, who gave the ultimatum in Lagos at a news conference, said the
Imo State Government must recall the workers or face the wrath of
labour.
Ajaero said the government, instead of finding ways to pay arrears of salaries owed workers, had resorted to sacking workers.
He said: “The penchant for humiliating Nigerian workers by our leaders is becoming sad.
“It has taken a turn for the worse with an assumed belief that Nigerian workers can no longer defend themselves.
“The lives of workers and their families are at stake and if the government ignores us it is to their peril.”
Ajaero
said Governor Rochas Okorocha had earlier denied that the government
was planning to sack and 48 hours later, he fired 3,000 workers.
The
labour chief said if the government failed to take any decision at the
expiration of the ultimatum, labour would ensure that there would be no
electricity supply in the state.
He said: “We will ensure that
there will be no light, tanker drivers will not supply fuel, while shops
and banks will not be opened for business.”
Ajearo said labour
waited for various negotiations on the issue before wading in and that
they would ensure that sanity was restored in the state.
He said
it was wrong for the government to terminate the jobs of workers on air
without negotiating with their representatives as required by law.
According
to him, his faction does not have to collaborate with any other group
to fight the cause of workers even if another NLC group had earlier met
with the governor.
Ajaero said it was regrettable that the State
Government was among those that benefited from the bailout funds from
the Federal Government and yet could not pay workers.
He said it
was sad that rather than create more employment, the State Government
was increasing the number of people in the unemployment market.
Ajaero
warned that if the government failed to recall the workers and
continued intimidating them without paying their salary arrears, the
congress would shut the state.
The Deputy Factional Leader, Igwe
Achese, said it was not right for workers to pay their taxes and also
suffer for the negligence of some State Governments.
He said
workers gave government the political will to govern well through votes
but the leaders had failed to use the votes to develop the nation and
improve lives.
Credit: Daily Post
Achese advised the Imo State Government to recall the workers to avoid disruption of activities in the state.
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