Wike, Labour in cold war over minimum wage

The Organised Labour in Rivers State has threatened to embark on indefinite strike over the inability of the Nyesom Wike’s administration to pay the agreed new national minimum wage.

It declared that no amount of intimidation or threat from the State government will stop the planned action to ensure that the rights of the public sector workers were put on the front burners.

In a statement after a joint meeting in Port Harcourt signed by Rivers Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mrs. Beatrice Itubo , her counterpart of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Austin Jonah and the Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council, Emechita Chukwu, the workers said they won’t back down until their demands were met.

It insisted that the proper implementation of the new national minimum wage to sectors in the public service, payment of gratuities to pensioners, workers’ promotion and incremental steps could not be swept under the carpet.

The workers talked the State government to reconvene the new national minimum wage negotiation committee, to ensure harmonious relationship, and tasked members to be committed to their duties while negotiations are ongoing.

Rivers Government at 9 pm on Sunday, February 2,2020 sealed off the secretariat of NLC on Igboukwu Street, D-Line, Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State government through the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, berated the Beatrice Itubo-led NLC for not being appreciative of the Governor Nyesom Wike administration in the payment of the minimum wage.

The Rivers government frowned at Labour for what it called its “political agenda”, saying the NLC is being used by politicians.

“It is quite unfortunate that the Beatrice Itubo-led NLC rather than show appreciation to the State Government for the prompt payment of the minimum wage, allowed themselves to be willing tools in the hands of politicians.

“NLC leadership should come out clearly to tell Rivers people that they are politicians instead of hiding under the cover of labour to propagate their political agenda.

“Rivers State Government has commenced the payment of the new minimum wage for employees of the State Public Service with the consequential salary adjustments as approved by the Federal Government, and will not be deterred by cheap blackmail”, the government stated.

The state government maintained that no amount of blackmail would deter Governor Wike from rendering his service to the people of Rivers.

“Governor Nyesom Wike remains committed to workers’ welfare and will not allow the activities of a few disgruntled elements to dissuade his resolve to serve the people,” the statement read.

Special Adviser, to the Governor on Special Projects, Mr. Dax George-Kelly, who is also the Head, Bureau for Special Projects, on Monday, claimed the secretariat was sealed off for structural integrity evaluation.