Mkpoikana Udoma 24 June 2015, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Rivers State Chapter of the Nigerian labour congress, NLC, has says it will not fold its hands anymore and allow further delay in payment of workers’ salaries.
Comrade Beatrice Itubo-led faction of the NLC announced this at a press conference in Port Harcourt, saying it is willing to give the new government in Rivers State led by Governor Nyesom Wike some time to settle down in office, but it will resist undue delay in addressing the rights of workers.She also urged the new administration in the state to prioritise payment of workers’ salaries, in order to ease the plight of the masses.
According to her, “We are calling on the executive governor of Rivers State to take payment of salaries as a matter of priority. We are aware that the economy of the country is in a downward trend, but workers did not cause the economic problems in the country and therefore should not be made to bear the brunt.”
“The politicians that mismanaged the economy of this country should see what they can do to review their own salaries and allowances downward, while they continue to pay us (workers) our salaries.”
Mrs. Itubo also denied the existence of factions in the Nigerian Labour Congress in Rivers State, explaining that Labour in the state is apolitical.
“I want to reaffirm here today that Labour is speaking with one voice and there are no factions. As you all know, we have 42 industrial unions that make up the Nigerian labour Congress and here in Rivers State, there are four of such union that do not exist.”
“ Labour is apolitical, the rumours that labour belongs to APC or PDP is not true, the truth is that Labour works with any government that is in power and because he (Governor Nyesom Wike) is here, we are ready to give him all the necessary support so that he can succeed” she said.
