By Maureen Dick
NIGERIA Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Rivers State have threatened to embark on strike action if President Bola Tinubu-led government fails to withdraw the emergency rule and allow elective officers to return to office.
The organised labour strongly condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in the State, warning that it might be forced to take decisive action that could disrupt national economic activities if the proclamation is not reversed within a reasonable timeframe.
Their threat was contained in a statement jointly signed by the Rivers State chairperson of the NLC, Alex Agwanwor; State chairperson of TUC, Ikechukwu Onyefuru and chairperson of the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Chuku Emecheta in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
In the statement, the labour unions raised concerns about the legality, economic impact and consequences of the federal government’s actions.
They described the declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu and House of Assembly members as premature and baseless.
The organised labour argued that people of Rivers State freely elected the government officials, stressing that any attempt to remove them unconstitutionally undermines tenets of democracy.
According to the unions, such actions must be reversed to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
They noted the immediate hardship the state of emergency has caused local government workers, adding that many of them are yet to receive their salaries.
The unions expressed further concerns about the effects withholding workers’ salaries, which expose them to economic hardship, especially with the high cost of living in Nigeria.
They warned that the state of emergency could have devastating economic effects on the residents, emphasising the state’s strategic importance to Niger Delta region and the country’s economy.
Also, the groups said with the nation already grappling with inflation, naira devaluation, high exchange rates, rising unemployment, and high living costs, further crisis in the state could worsen the situation nationwide.
The statement also pointed out that the political uncertainty caused by the state of emergency has driven away potential investors who had expressed interest in the state’s economic initiative.
According to the organised labour, loss of investment is damaging the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) and will have long-term consequences for economic development and employment opportunities in the region.
The union leaders, who acknowledged the need for maintaining law and order, stressed that such actions must be carried out within the framework of the Nigerian Constitution.
In their nine-point resolution, the unions argued that suspending elected officials and allegedly disrupting salary payments for workers were an infringement of their fundamental rights and could worsen security and economic challenges.
Also, they emphasized the need for government to prioritize the safety and welfare of citizens over political interests.
They warned that any governance approach that sacrifices workers’ well-being for political interests would only heighten tensions and resistance.
The statement called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and the judiciary to take immediate steps to reverse the state of emergency and reinstate the suspended elected officials.
The unions advised the federal government to engage in meaningful dialogue with relevant stakeholders to resolve the political impasse peacefully.
They, however, warned that failure to engage stakeholders could further escalate the crisis, and worsen the already tensed political atmosphere in the state.
They advised workers in the state to remain calm, but warned that the organized labour would not hesitate to take strategic union actions if their demands were not met within a stipulated period.