Timely intervention of the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has ended industrial action commenced on Tuesday, by workers of Emohua local government workers in the State, over rift with the Council Chairman, Mr Chidi Llyod.
Governor Fubara had after a closed door meeting with the leadership of Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, (NULGE), the Local Government Service Commission and Chairman of Emohua Council Chairman , Llyod directed that the parties resolved their differences amicably.
In a joint press briefing after the meeting on Tuesday, in Government House, Port Harcourt, the Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Israel Amadi, Emohua chairman and President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Rivers State Council, Clifford Paul commended Governor Fubara for his intervention and assured that they will comply with his directive to ensure that the disputes were harmoniously resolved.
According to the chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Amadi, “His Excellency has given his mandate and we want to use this opportunity to thank him for intervening. And we hope that everything that we have discussed and resolved will be implemented as we also thank NULGE for their collaboration and cooperation.”
Also speaking, Chidi Llyod noted that Governor Fubara has issued clear directives and assured that they will work together to implement the directives.
He emphasised that the governor had further directed that the Council and the Local Government Service Commission should take it further, noting, “We will come out very soon with all that we have agreed.”
Lloyd further thanked the President of NULGE for appealing to his workers to call off the strike, assuring that they will move forward together, adding that it is nothing personal, but wants to ensure transparency in the system.
He appreciated Governor Fubara for also being on the side of transparency and his timely intervention on the matter that would have turned as a disagreement between NULGE and the Council.
Announcing the suspension of the industrial action embarked early Tuesday, the parties noted that having met with the governor on their disagreement with Emohua local government council resulting in a statewide strike action in the LGAs, they have resolved as the governor has directed that the matter be handled harmoniously.
“So, on behalf of the State Council of NULGE, I enjoin all our members to resume work. All the branch chairmen and the State officers are hereby directed to call off the strike.” Paul stated.
Members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees in the State declared a strike action leading to the locking of the 23 Council Secretariats in the State. The action followed the sack of some council workers in Emohua last week.
Blessing Ibunge
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