Labour Suspends Planned Rivers Protest As Wike Caves In To Pressure

Organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) has suspended its planned protest slated for Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital after a last minute agreement was reached with the state government.

The suspension followed an agreement reached on the issues in dispute during an overnight meeting with the Rivers State Government. Labour has been at loggerheads with the state government following allegations of infractions on rights of workers.

LEADERSHIP reports that in a frantic effort to avert Tuesday’s planned protest, the state governor, Nyesom Wike had held a last minute closed-door meeting with Labour leaders at the government house.

Following the meeting, the government agreed to immediately unseal the NLC Secretariat in Portharcourt. It also agreed to set up a tripartite committee for the implementation of the new national minimum wage for workers and payment of arrears of pension to pensioners as well as the opening

In the MoU signed between labour and the state government, it was agreed that the Rivers state government shall immediately restore the remittance of check-off dues nd pay all outstanding arrears to the respective labour unions.

It was also agreed that all salaries of health workers withheld due to April 2017 strike will be paid

Addressing newsmen at the end of the meeting in Government House, Portharcourt, the president of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the Rivers State Government during the meeting showed commitment to address the issues that led to the scheduled protest rally.

Comrade Wabba added that the organised labour and Rivers State Government have also agreed to withdraw all pending Court cases that arose from the dispute.

Meanwhile, the Head of Civil Service of Rivers State, Mr Rufus Godwin has expressed the willingness of the government to abide by the agreement and urged workers to report to their various duty post today.