Organized Labour Suspends Planned Protest In Rivers State

Organised labour in Rivers State has suspended its planned protest after reaching an agreement with the state government.

After a meeting which lasted for several hours with the state government on Monday, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ayuba Wabba, said that the issues raised have been addressed and the protest scheduled for Tuesday has also been suspended.

The Organised labour made up of NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) raised pending issues with the state government, centred on the new minimum wage, payment of outstanding health workers salaries, unsealing of the NLC secretariat among other concerns.

“Organised labour agreed to immediately suspend the planned protest scheduled for Tuesday 8 September 2020,” Mr Wabba said.

The NLC President noted that the State Government has agreed to pay the approved N30,000 new national minimum wage, after months of unresolved negotiations.

“Parties have agreed to sign the agreement on the implementation of the new national minimum wage and consequential adjustment.”

Mr Wabba stated further that the NLC secretariat which was sealed up in February 2020 by the state government will be reopened.

The seal up caused an uproar after security operatives arrived the place and sealed up the premises used by labour unions in the state.

“The NLC secretariat which was sealed for the correction of the structural defect will immediately be unsealed while the government continues with the correction work if any,” The NLC President averred.

Other issues raised, like the remittance of check-off dues, according to the NLC President, will be immediately restored.

“The Rivers State government shall immediately restore the remittance of check-off dues and pay all outstanding arrears to the respective trade unions.

“Rivers State government commits to the payment of salaries withheld from health workers due to the 2017 strike action,” he stated.

Mr Wabba added that both parties have also agreed to set up a tripartite committee to discuss and resolve all outstanding labour issues, including the adjustment of pensions in line with the constitution and [payment of pensions and gratuity.

He also stated that the parties have resolved to take steps in ending all ongoing litigations in relation to the dispute in those matters.

The NLC President said that following the agreement, no worker will be victimised based on the roles played in the industrial dispute with the Rivers State Government.