Labour calls off strike as Wike capitulates

By Blessing Ajah

Rivers  State Governor, Nyesome Wike, has capitulated to organized labour over its threat to embark on strike over the poor working conditions of workers in the state.

The aggrieved labour unions are kicking against the lack of full

implementation of the National Minimum Wage, non-promotion of civil servants, failure to pay backlog of arrears of pensioners and the sealing off of the Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in Port Harcourt.

Subsequently, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in collaboration with other unions had mapped out plans for a major demonstration against Wike’s government.

According to their Presidents, Comrade Ayuba Wabba (NLC) and Comrade Quadri Olaleye (TUC), the planned demonstration would have been followed by a strike commencing on Tuesday September 8.

The Labour leaders disclosed on Tuesday that the planned protest and strike had been called off following agreement reached with Governor Wike after a meeting between the two parties.

They disclosed that after the meeting, representatives of

the Rivers State government and Labour, jointly signed a resolution for the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage and other consequential adjustments.

The signatories to the agreement, the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo and Beatrice Itubu of the NLC, resolved to discontinue all litigation.

Part of the agreement read, “The NLC Secretariat which was sealed for the correction of structural defects will be immediately unsealed while the government continues the correction work.”

“The Rivers State government shall immediately commence the remittances of check-out dues and pay all the outstanding arrears to the respective Labour Unions.”

“Organised Labour agrees to immediately suspend the planned protest scheduled for Tuesday September 8th, 2020”.