Okorocha sets up committee to handle govt, workers rift

The Imo government has set up a committee to look into the protest by the organised labour against the commercialisation of MDAs and the fourth tier government proposed by Gov. Rochas Okorocha.

Dr Reginald Anyadike, the Chairman of NLC, Imo chapter, announced the development on Tuesday while addressing civil and public servants at the May Day celebration held at Dan Ayiam Stadium, Owerri.

He said the committee, made up of members of the NLC and the TUC, would meet with representatives of the government to discuss the issues and make appropriate recommendations.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organised labour in the state had kicked against some government policies, especially that of the fourth tier government and threatened to go on strike if it did not rescind the decisions.

Anyadike explained that the labout was against the fourth tier government because it had no bearing with the Nigerian system of government.

He also said the labour was opposed to the use of uniforms by civil servants unless the government was ready to supplement the cost.

According to him, the labour would continue to use dialogue to pursue its demands. He also requested for a free flow of information between it and the government.

The NLC boss commended the governor for his reformation agenda in the state but said there were issues that needed to be resolved.

He listed the issues to include the commercialisation of MDAs, non-promotion of civil servants, non-payment of minimum wage arrears, and non-payment of pension arrears to retired civil servants, among others.

Anyadike noted that the government could not afford to have a rift with the labour because the success of any government hinged on amicable relationship and cooperation between the labour and the government.

Prof. Anthony Anuka, the Secretary to the State Government, who represented the state governor, assured the labour unions that the government would do its best to ensure amicable resolution of the issues in contention.

He said the government had been meeting and would continue to rob minds with the organised labour to arrive at a conclusion and urged the members to exercise patience with the government.