NLC CALLS OFF WARNING STRIKE IN IMO
Reporter : CHINAZO ILECHUKWU
The organized labour in Imo State has called off its one week old industrial action to pave way for peaceful resolution of the labour and state government face-off.
This was contained in a communiqué jointly signed by representatives of the National Executives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Imo State Government.
The communiqué was read by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, after a meeting at Government House Owerri.
The organized labour in Imo State embarked on a warning strike on Monday January 25, 2021 to compel the state government to, among other things, pay salaries to workers whose names were allegedly omitted in the state’s payroll system since March 2021, address nonpayment of salaries to some categories of health workers and commence the payment of national minimum wage to workers.
The action led to the emergence of a splinter group that claimed to have sacked the elected executive of the organized labour, thereby creating confusion as there were directives and counter directives to workers.
Worried by the situation, the National leadership of the organized labour met with Governor Hope Uzodinma and some members of his cabinet at the Government House, Owerri to find ways of restoring industrial harmony.
The Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, while reading the communiqué on behalf of the government, said the meeting resolved to set up a joint committee of the organized labour and state government to look into complaints of nonpayment of salaries by some workers with a view to commencing their payment after verification.
Briefing journalists, the General Secretary Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Emmanuel Ugboaja, urged workers in the state to return to work on Monday next week to enable the parties to resolve issues bothering on their welfare.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Austin Chilakpu, who accompanied the National executive members of NLC and TUC to the meeting, commended the state government for listening to the demands of workers and promised to abide by the resolutions of the meeting to ensure industrial harmony.
He said the organized labour in the state was one and would remain the same.