•Akpabio orders HOS to open register
Akwa Ibom State workers yesterday said they would not be harassed and intimidated by the government to call off their strike.
They said until Governor Godswill Akpabio correct the “defective” salary structure table, they would remain at home.
The workers and the government had been at loggerheads over the issue of relativity as it affects the new minimum wage.
Even though the government claimed it had released N16.2 billion for the payment of salaries and arrears of workers from April to December, the workers seem not satisfied with the move.
As the strike enters the third week, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Unyime Usoro, said instead of the government to meet its demand, it was trying to divide its ranks by causing disagreement among its leadership.
Usoro told workers to be calm, saying Labour would not succumb to any threat until its demands are met.
He said the government was not ready for discussion with Labour on how to address the defective salary structure table.
His words: “We are expecting the government to call us for a meeting yesterday but we heard that some people in government told the governor that he doesn’t need to meet with us that they have concluded arrangement to divide our ranks.
“So they didn’t invite us for the meeting again. As I am speaking with you, the strike is still on and will still go on until government is ready to address the welfare of the people.”
At the Indongesit Nkanga State Secretariat yesterday, it was a carnival of sorts as members of the unions mounted speakers at the gate, dancing and singing anti-government songs.
There was a radio announcement on Monday asking local government workers under the umbrella of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), to report for duty.
However, a visit to some councils showed that workers did not heed to the directive as the council gates were still locked.
At Uyo Local Government office, an official said most of the workers refused to come to work because the announcement was not signed by the union chairman but by the secretary and publicity secretary.
Akpabio yesterday summoned an emergency stakeholders’ meeting of elders, paramount rulers and youths at the Government House, Uyo to plead with labour to call-off its strike.
At the meeting which last two hours, Akpabio said the administration would be forced to implement the No-work-No-pay rule, if the unions fail to call off the strike.
Akpabio, however, ordered the Head of Service, Mrs. Cecilia Udoessien, to open registers for workers.
The governor said he would give the workers timeframe to resume, saying failure to do so, he would be forced to implement the No-Work-No-Pay rule.
He also ordered security agencies to arrest anybody who wants to disrupt the peace.
Akpabio said: “I want to plead that labour should call-off its strike so that workers in the state employ can earn January salary.”
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Minimum wage strike: Akwa Ibom workers adamant