The Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) says it is an integral part of the Nigeria Labour Congress and seriously affected by the reasons adduced for the industrial action beginning on Tuesday in the State.
This tough stance of the NUJ is coming at a time labour leaders in the state are said to have gone underground for fear of being harassed by the Rivers State government.
In an interview with current matters, the Secretary of the NUJ,,Ike Wigodo said the issues for the strike includes non payment of pensions to retirees , non payment of increment and non promotion of staff since 2015
He said” gratuities and pensions for all our members who retired between 2015 to date have not been paid, Those who are working, have also not been promoted for the past six years.Their increments have also not been affected,
” Even nature does not allow stagnation.it allows one to grow in a given space of life, even plants grow so why is it that workers should remain stagnant for six years? he asked.
” We will have to join the strike, we support all that the NLC is doing to ensure that workers welfare are met.
The NLC had asked workers in Rivers State to down tools in protest of issues ranging from non implementation of the minimum wage,non payment of pensions for several years, non promotion,non payment among others.
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According to the NLC, the industrial action became neccessary in view of failure on the path of government to thread in the direction of industrial harmony in the state as it states that several appeals have been made to the governor about workers welfare but the situation remains
Meanwhile the Rivers State Government has accused the NLC of instigating workers into industrial action despite a court order against such.
However,NLC has said it is not aware of any court injunction and will go ahead with the planned mass protest
The Union led by Ayuba Wabba had warned that it would not hesitate to draw the attention of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to Rivers State if anything goes wrong with any striking worker.
