Organized Labour in Cross River State including Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, Trade Union Congress TUC and Joint Public Service Negotiating Council JNC have threatened to resume its suspended 31-day old strike, if workers demands are not met within the next five months
The labour movement whose industrial action has crippled the workforce and economic activities in the state, are demanding for the reinstatement of 1,800 workers whose names were removed from the payroll of the State Government and payment of outstanding gratuities to retirees amongst others
NLC Chairman in the state, Com. John Ukpebi who announced the suspension of the strike on Thursday, issued the threat saying "they have not called off the industrial action but only suspended it for 5 months as they hope that government will not fail on its part.
His words:” There have been grievance upon grievances, this is one of the longest strikes in the history of the state, and this was because of government insensitivity.
“Following the agreement reached with the government, through the mediation of the state Traditional Ruler’s Council, led by HRM Etim Okon Edet, the strike is hereby suspended forthwith", he added
Also speaking in the same vein, TUC Chairman, Com. Monday Ogbodum said that had to come to a compromise due to the meeting with TRC
He added that the strike was suspended because of the so much respect the Organized Labour have for institution
“We have extracted various commitments from government, while they have started implementing some of them already, on issues of implementation of arrears they have started from September.
” We have also extracted commitment from government, that from January 1 2022, the 1,800 persons whose names were removed from the payroll will be returned", the TUC boss stated
According to Ogbodum,“ the government has also agreed to be keeping 50 million naira monthly for the purpose of gratuity amongst other commitments we have extracted from them".
“Just like NLC and JNC Chairmen have stated, we are not calling off the action, it’s just a suspension, and we shall keep faith with government for 5 months to see if they are they are sincere,” he added
Also the State Chairman Of Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, JNC, Com Godwin Otei addressing newsmen at the State Secretariat of Association of Senior Civil servants of Nigeria ASCSN/ TUC, stated that the strike was suspended in the interest of CrossRiverians
He explained that the Organized Labour had to reach an agreement with the government, so that there could be room for implementation of the agreements so far reached.
” We have never had it this bad, we were expecting a better Cross River handed over by previous government instead it git worst, every aspect of the lives of CrossRiverians were affected, everything depreciated", Otei added
“The hope of retirees and their gratuity became an illusion, we as Civil Servants are seen as pariah, once you want to get a facility from the bank, and they ask you where you work, if you mention civil servant, you can never get the loan, yet we are buying planes, travelling round the world and now we are planning to buy ships",he lamented.
Well, we have agreed to wait for another five months to see if the government will fulfil all we have agreed, and we did this in the interest of the people, this will go down as one of the longest strikes in the history of our dear state, as we stayed home for about 31 days, “Otei said.
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