– Reject state of emergency, demand immediate reversal
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Organised labour in Rivers State have issued a strong warning to the federal government, threatening a nationwide strike if the state of emergency imposed on the state is not reversed immediately.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in a joint statement on Tuesday said they “may be compelled to take strategic union actions which might disrupt national economic activities” if their demands are not met within a reasonable timeframe.
The statement jointly signed by the Rivers State NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor; TUC Chairman, Sir Ikechukwu Onyefuru; and Chairperson of the Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, Comrade Chuku Emecheta, condemned the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, describing the decision as “premature, baseless, and harmful to workers and the state’s economy,” calling for its immediate reversal.
The labour unions denounced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that such actions undermine democracy and constitutional governance.
One of the unions’ primary concerns is the financial hardship faced by workers, particularly at the local government level, due to salary delays caused by the emergency declaration.
“The Rivers State Organized Labour strongly condemns the premature and baseless declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of elected officials who were chosen by the people of Rivers State,”
“Local government workers are yet to receive their salaries, leaving them exposed to avoidable economic hardship. At a time when Nigerians are grappling with high inflation, naira devaluation, an unstable exchange rate, and an unaffordable cost of living, this decision only worsens the suffering of ordinary citizens.”
The unions also warned that the state of emergency is damaging Rivers State’s economy, particularly in terms of investment and revenue generation.
“Rivers State holds strategic importance in Nigeria’s economy and the Niger Delta region. The declaration of emergency has already discouraged potential investors who had indicated interest in the ‘New Rivers Vision.’ Many have backed out of planned investments, thereby impairing the state’s growing internally generated revenue,” the statement noted.
While reaffirming their commitment to law and order, the labour unions insisted that the federal government’s actions must align with the Nigerian Constitution and should not jeopardize workers’ welfare.
“We support the maintenance of law and order, but the declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of elected officials must be constitutional and must not expose workers to wage invalidity, non-payment of salaries, and security threats.”
The unions emphasized that government policies should prioritize citizens’ safety and well-being over political interest.
The labour leaders urged President Tinubu, the National Assembly, and the Judiciary to urgently reverse the emergency declaration and reinstate the suspended officials to restore normalcy. They also advised the federal government to engage in genuine dialogue to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
“We are appealing to the President, the National Assembly, and the Judiciary to immediately reverse this decision and return Rivers State to normalcy,” the statement urged. “The federal government must engage in meaningful dialogue to address these issues instead of resorting to actions that destabilize the state.”
The unions warned that failure to act swiftly could lead to a nationwide disruption of economic activities.
“If our demands are not met within a reasonable timeframe, the Organized Labour may be compelled to take strategic union actions that could disrupt national economic activities,” they declared.
Despite their unpaid salaries, the organized labour called on workers in Rivers State to remain calm and continue their duties while awaiting a favorable response from the government.
