*As public workers begin indefinite strike

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Wednesday, directed the stoppage of fuel, and electricity supplies to Imo State in furtherance of the industrial dispute between the Congress and Imo State over  20 months’ salary arrears among others.

In a statement, NLC also advised those travelling to Imo State through the Airport to look for other alternatives as all activities would be crippled following a declaration of a statewide strike.

NLC in a statement by its President Joe Ajaero lamented that “the present situation in Imo state especially as it concerns reasonable and effective social dialogue has become so toxic that it is almost impossible to engage the government in any decent conversation. Hobbesian state of nature has become prevalent exposing not just workers in the state but institutions and individuals to the most horrendous of scare, fear and violence in their daily activities.”

Among others, the statement said “It is within this context that NLC in continuation of the Statewide Industrial action in the State which has already commenced this morning (Wednesday) and which was prompted by the brigandage of the state government in conjunction with Security agencies against workers in the state yesterday (Tuesday) who assembled peacefully to conduct the State Delegates Conference of the Congress.

“As we had pledged, we cannot fold our hands and watch the state turn into a camp of horror and a ghost state because of the irresponsible actions of some operatives bequeathed with the powers of the state. The use of instruments of state as weapons to terrorise workers and the people cannot be accepted in sane engagements and it is only by the action of responsible organisations like ours and other patriotic individuals that such perfidy could be stopped.

“The government of Imo State has become a serial abuser and violator of the rights and privileges of its workers. It has deliberately turned the state into the most uncomfortable clime for workers in Nigeria. As it stands today, the state has almost made it seem a criminal offence to be a worker. We have taken notice of the previous actions of the government and had warned severally of the implications of their unreasonable actions and demanded that a new leaf be turned but sadly, these warnings were left unheeded.

For the avoidance of doubt, we restate below some of the atrocities of the state government against its own workers. They are   20 months’ Salary arrears owed to some workers stigmatised as ghost workers, the declaration of about 11,000 workers in the state as ghost workers even while they were physically at work and diversion of their salaries, and intimidation and harassment of Trade Union leaders; a witch hunt carried out in different guises.

Others include the continuous use of instrument of violence against workers in the state as was furthered in the terror of yesterday (Tuesday), impoundment and illegal diversion of Union dues in the state, declaration of about 10,000 pensioners as ghost Pensioners and refusal to pay them for over 22 months leading to the death of many, harassment and intimidation of the entire workforce with constant threats of violence and sack and the resort to blackmail and falsehood through the Information Commissioner of the state whose infamous role as an attack dog of the administration has not only scuttled reasonable and effective social dialogue but has also brought the state to ridicule.”

According to NLC, “In pursuit of our legitimate strike action to restore sanity to the state’s industrial relations sphere, we wish to advise that those travelling to Imo State through the Airport to look for other alternatives, those that make use of Petroleum products should make efforts to seek alternatives and, those that use Electricity to seek other options outside the National Grid.

“We are resolved to press home our demands and until these infractions are remedied, we will continue escalating the industrial action till the government is compelled to show reason and restore meaningful and effective dialogue in the state.

“NLC calls on the federal government to use whatsoever may be at its disposal to protect the lives of the citizens and workers in Imo state. The actions and inactions of the state government are capable of turning the state into a ghost state and this must be avoided. The actions of the federal government would go a long way in ensuring that sanity is restored and the people free to participate in social activities without fear and intimidation.”