TheCable

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo has accused the government of intimidating organised labour in the state.

Addressing a media conference on Friday, Collins Opuruzor, the PDP spokesperson in the state, alleged that the Imo government has “suppressed” labour unions in the state.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had declared an industrial action in Imo as a result of the disruption of the workers’ day celebration in the state on Monday.

However, Philip Nwansi, Imo chairperson of the NLC, countered the national leadership of the union, saying workers in the state will not join the strike.

Opuruzor also claimed the state government “imposed a weak” NLC leadership on the state to prevent the union from being active in protecting the interest of its members.

“Today, Imo workers are not just denied their salaries, they are further attacked, while aged pensioners are humiliated and flogged like beasts, even when their pensions are as well heartlessly denied,” Opuruzor said.

He said the state government has hijacked and destroyed the organised labour in Imo.

The opposition party said residents in Imo are not relishing the dividend of democracy as the government has underperformed.

“As we speak, 11,000 authentic Imo workers have been stigmatised as ghost workers and they are owed 20 months salary arrears. These were people verified by the past administration of the PDP and not a dime was owed to anyone by our government,” he said.

“Worse still, 10,000 real Imo pensioners have also been classified as ghost pensioners, and the government has refused to pay them for 22 months.”

The PDP said the “intimidation of labour union leaders” and “coercion against Imo workers have now been elevated to that status of state policy in Imo”.

Opuruzor said the PDP stands with workers in the state “through these dark times” and the party is prepared to “walk with them every step of the way to ensure that their rights and privileges are never trampled upon any longer by this dictatorship of the day”.

Meanwhile, reacting to the PDP’s claims, Ogubundu Nwadike, an aide to Hope Uzodimma, governor of the state, said the government does not meddle in the affairs of the NLC.

“Accusing the governor of interfering in the affairs of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state is laughable,” Nwadike said.