Labour sets to paralyse businesses in Imo State over alleged Gov Uzodinma anti-workers activities

By allcitynews.ng

When organised labour under the umbrella of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced its readiness to crumble business activities in Imo State, it was a clear reminder of the word of wisdom that when two elephants fight the grass too will suffer.

Apparently concerned over his alleged  systematic giving the workers bad name in order to shy away from performing his coinstitutional responsibility, NLC expressed its concern over alleged refusal to implement previous collective agreements especially the accord reached on January 9, 2021, outstanding salary arrears of about 20 months, unjust declaration of workers as ghost workers, declaration of pensioners as ghost workers and unsettled gratuity arrears among others.

Thus both privately and public owned businesses may be forced to partake in the planned picketing by labour over the alleged anti-workers activities whereby  Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has allegedly refused to pay 22 months pensions.

Following Uzodimma’s alleged anti-industrial harmony move, Comrade Joe Ajaero led NLC has said it will mobilise its members to storm Imo State on Wednesday, 1 November 2023.

Briefing journalists at the Labour House on Sunday, 29 October 2023 in Abuja,  Ajaero, accused the Imo State Government of violating the rights of the Nigerian workers in the state.

Accusing Governor Hope Uzodimma of neglecting workers’ welfare, Ajaero lamented that many of them have died because of the alleged lack of payment of their salaries.

He outlined some of the infractions against workers by the Imo State Governor including the alleged refusal to implement previous agreements especially the accord reached on January 9, 2021, outstanding salary arrears of about 20 months, unjust declaration of workers as ghost workers, declaration of pensioners as ghost workers and unsettled gratuity arrears among others.

According to him, approximately 10,000 pensioners have been wrongly labelled as ghost pensioners resulting in over 22 months of unpaid pensions while about 11,000 workers have been branded by the Imo State Government as ghost workers.

The NLC president also lamented the non-compliance with the national minimum wage by the state government, adding that Governor Uzodinma has resisted the use of social dialogue and collective bargaining to resolve the issues.