PRESS RELEASE
8TH OF MARCH, 2023
BEFORE IMO STATE BECOMES A GHOST STATE
The present situation in Imo state especially as it concerns reasonable
and effective social dialogue has become so toxic that it is almost
impossible to engage the government in any decent conversation.
Hobbesian state of nature has become prevalent exposing not just
workers in the state but institutions and individuals to the most
horrendous of scare, fear and violence in their daily activities.
A state that once prided itself as the Eastern Heartland which provided
weekend rendezvous to those looking for relaxation and comfort by the
deliberate actions of this government has become heavily terrorised.
Citizens’ engagements with the government are almost non-existent
while participation in social life is petering to nothing. Moving around
the state requires extra caution as a heavy pall of gloom seems to have
enveloped the state.
It is within this context that NLC in continuation of the State wide
Industrial action in the State which has already commenced this
morning and which was prompted by the brigandage of the state
government in conjunction with Security agencies against workers in
the state yesterday who assembled peacefully to conduct the State
Delegates Conference of the Congress.
As we had pledged, we cannot fold our hands and watch the state turn
into a camp of horror and a ghost state because of the irresponsible
actions of some operatives bequeathed with the powers of state. The
use of of instruments of state as weapons to terrorise workers and the
people cannot be accepted in sane engagements and it is only by the
action of responsible organisation like ours and other patriotic
individuals that such perfidy could be stopped.
The government of Imo state has become a serial abuser and violator of
the rights and privileges of its workers. It has deliberately turned the
State into the most uncomfortable clime for workers in Nigeria. As it
stands today, the state has almost made it seem a criminal offence to be
a worker. We have taken notice of the previous actions of the
government and had warned severally of the implications of their
unreasonable actions and had demanded that a new leaf be turned but
sadly, these warnings were left unheeded.
For the avoidance of doubt, we restate below some of the atrocities of
the state government against its own workers. They are:
- 20 months Salary arrears owed to some workers stigmatised as
ghost workers - Declaration of about 11,000 workers in the state as ghost workers
even while they were physically at work and diversion of their
salaries. - Intimidation and Harassment of Trade Union leaders; a witch hunt
carried out in different guises - Continued use of thugs and instrument of violence against
workers in the state as was furthered in the terror of yesterday. - Impoundment and illegal diversion of Union dues in the state
- Declaration of about 10,000 pensioners as ghost Pensioners and
refusing to pay them for over 22 Months leading to the death of
many. - Harassment and intimidation of the entire workforce with
constant threats of violence and sack - The Resort to blackmail and falsehood through the Information
Commissioner of the state whose infamous role as an attack dog
of the administration has not only scuttled reasonable and
effective social dialogue but has also brought the state to ridicule.
Consequently in pursuit of our legitimate strike action to restore sanity
to the state’s industrial relations sphere, we wish to advise that:
1) those travelling to Imo State through the Airport to look for other
alternatives
2) those that make use of Petroleum products should make efforts
to seek alternatives and,
3) those that use Electricity to seek other options outside the
National Grid.
We are resolved to press home our demands and until these infractions
are remedied, we will continue escalating the industrial action till the
government is compelled to show reason and restore meaningful and
effective dialogue in the state.
NLC calls on the federal government to use whatsoever may be at its
disposal to protect the lives of the citizens and workers in Imo state. The
actions and inactions of the state government are capable of turning
the state into a ghost state and this must be avoided. The actions of the
federal government would go a long way in ensuring that sanity is
restored and the people free to participate in social activities without
fear and intimidation.
Enough is Enough!
Comrade Joe Ajaero
President
PRESS RELEASE
8TH OF MARCH, 2023
BEFORE IMO STATE BECOMES A GHOST STATE
The present situation in Imo state especially as it concerns reasonable
and effective social dialogue has become so toxic that it is almost
impossible to engage the government in any decent conversation.
Hobbesian state of nature has become prevalent exposing not just
workers in the state but institutions and individuals to the most
horrendous of scare, fear and violence in their daily activities.
A state that once prided itself as the Eastern Heartland which provided
weekend rendezvous to those looking for relaxation and comfort by the
deliberate actions of this government has become heavily terrorised.
Citizens’ engagements with the government are almost non-existent
while participation in social life is petering to nothing. Moving around
the state requires extra caution as a heavy pall of gloom seems to have
enveloped the state.
It is within this context that NLC in continuation of the State wide
Industrial action in the State which has already commenced this
morning and which was prompted by the brigandage of the state
government in conjunction with Security agencies against workers in
the state yesterday who assembled peacefully to conduct the State
Delegates Conference of the Congress.
As we had pledged, we cannot fold our hands and watch the state turn
into a camp of horror and a ghost state because of the irresponsible
actions of some operatives bequeathed with the powers of state. The
use of of instruments of state as weapons to terrorise workers and the
people cannot be accepted in sane engagements and it is only by the
action of responsible organisation like ours and other patriotic
individuals that such perfidy could be stopped.
The government of Imo state has become a serial abuser and violator of
the rights and privileges of its workers. It has deliberately turned the
State into the most uncomfortable clime for workers in Nigeria. As it
stands today, the state has almost made it seem a criminal offence to be
a worker. We have taken notice of the previous actions of the
government and had warned severally of the implications of their
unreasonable actions and had demanded that a new leaf be turned but
sadly, these warnings were left unheeded.
For the avoidance of doubt, we restate below some of the atrocities of
the state government against its own workers. They are:
- 20 months Salary arrears owed to some workers stigmatised as
ghost workers - Declaration of about 11,000 workers in the state as ghost workers
even while they were physically at work and diversion of their
salaries. - Intimidation and Harassment of Trade Union leaders; a witch hunt
carried out in different guises - Continued use of thugs and instrument of violence against
workers in the state as was furthered in the terror of yesterday. - Impoundment and illegal diversion of Union dues in the state
- Declaration of about 10,000 pensioners as ghost Pensioners and
refusing to pay them for over 22 Months leading to the death of
many. - Harassment and intimidation of the entire workforce with
constant threats of violence and sack - The Resort to blackmail and falsehood through the Information
Commissioner of the state whose infamous role as an attack dog
of the administration has not only scuttled reasonable and
effective social dialogue but has also brought the state to ridicule.
Consequently in pursuit of our legitimate strike action to restore sanity
to the state’s industrial relations sphere, we wish to advise that:
1) those travelling to Imo State through the Airport to look for other
alternatives
2) those that make use of Petroleum products should make efforts
to seek alternatives and,
3) those that use Electricity to seek other options outside the
National Grid.
We are resolved to press home our demands and until these infractions
are remedied, we will continue escalating the industrial action till the
government is compelled to show reason and restore meaningful and
effective dialogue in the state.
NLC calls on the federal government to use whatsoever may be at its
disposal to protect the lives of the citizens and workers in Imo state. The
actions and inactions of the state government are capable of turning
the state into a ghost state and this must be avoided. The actions of the
federal government would go a long way in ensuring that sanity is
restored and the people free to participate in social activities without
fear and intimidation.
Enough is Enough!
Comrade Joe Ajaero
President