TheCable

Philip Nwansi, Imo chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), says workers in the state will not join the strike declared by the national leadership of the congress.

The Organised Labour had declared an industrial action in Imo as a result of the disruption of the workers’ day celebration in the state on Monday.

However, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Nwansi, who is also the state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), advised the NLC national leadership to call off the strike because Imo workers under his leadership were unwilling to down tools.

He argued that workers in the state have “a robust industrial harmony” with the state government and as such, there was no need for a strike.

“For your records, Governor Hope Uzodinma is not owing any salary arrears,” Nwansi said.

“The governor, in his magnanimity, had earlier directed that the few workers who deliberately refused to participate in the verification exercise, be paid their salaries.

“Similarly, the governor has paid 90 percent of pensioners in the state. This is according to the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP).

“The governor has set all machineries in motion to commence the payment of gratuities to the retirees way back from 2007. This is no mean feat, no government in the south-east has done it.

“The Organized Labour in Imo state has been engaging the government in robust discussions and the results of the engagements are the litany of achievements listed here.”

Nwansi noted that the congress has no issue in the state except for its “botched election” of new leadership.

“The only issue we have in Imo NLC is the botched election of the new leadership of the union which was declared inconclusive. But then, it was an NLC affair, not that of TUC. What the NLC should have done was to fix a date to conduct a fresh election,” he added.

“The NLC president recently summoned all the parties connected with the election at his Abuja office but failed to implement the decisions reached at the meeting.

“Instead, he insisted that he must force Imo workers to accept his brother and schoolmate, George Ofoegbu, as NLC chairman in Imo state. Imo workers are yet to come to terms with the NLC president, Joe Ajaero.

“It is important also to point out that a leader must be respected as enshrined in the Holy Bible, but the way and manner the NLC president and his secretary, comrade Emmanuel Ogbuaja, abuse leaders, especially our governor, distinguished senator Hope Uzodinma, calls for concern.

“It is on this note that we call on the national leaders of NLC to jettison the proposed strike action in Imo as Organised Labour has agreed not to be part of it.”