Mkpoikana Udoma 27 June 2014, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – Organised labour in the Nigerian Civil Service says it has thrown its weight behind the continued strike embarked on by the Judiciary workers in Rivers State.
The National Deputy President of the Nigerian Civil Service Union, Comrade Menele Nzidee, told SweetCrudeReports that the crisis rocking the Rivers State Judiciary has created an unsafe working environment for the workers.
According to him, “As the deputy national president of the Nigerian Civil Service, I am in complete support to the Judiciary Staff Union on this ongoing strike. One politician will sit somewhere and forment trouble, and when the whole reaction falls down on the workers, when we react they will give us bad names”.
Comrade Nzidee however called on politicians in Rivers State to emulate the attitude of Ekiti state governor, Dr. Fayemi Kayode, and allow peace to reign in the state, particularly for the masses.
In the same vein, the Rivers State Chapter of the Nigerian Civil Service says it is also in support of the strike by the Judiciary Workers Union in the state.
Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the Nigerian Civil Service, Mr. Sopriye West told SweetCrudeReports that the strike was for the safety of the Judiciary workers.
According to him, “we are in solidarity with them (judiciary workers) because we see their pains as workers, and what they are going through. It is not their fault, it is only when the environment is safe, that is when you can sit down to work. When the work environment is not safe, there is no way anybody can put in his or her best in such environment,” he said.
Mr. West also denied the insinuations in some quarters, that the strike by the judiciary workers was politically motivated.
It should be recalled that the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, in Rivers State headed by Mr. George Sokari commenced an indefinite strike on the 10th of June following insecurity, confusion and deepening crisis on the issue of appointment of the Chief Judge in the state.