By Amos Igbebe, Asaba
As workers in 21 local government councils in Delta, yesterday, commenced an indefinite strike action over non-payment of four months salaries, Delta State Government has appealed to the striking workers to suspend the strike and discuss ways out of the quagmire.
Speaking on behalf of the state government, Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour and Industrial Relations, Comrade Mike Okeme, said industrial actions had paralysed activities in the councils, noting strike had never in any way helped the government, but rather it has destabilized government activities as much revenue is loss to industrial actions.
Okeme made the call yesterday during a meeting between the state Local Government Service Commission and leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) held in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The meeting which was summoned by the Chairman of the State Local Government Commission, Comrade Olumami Oyibo, was aimed at finding solution to the strike action so as halt the impact of the action on local government councils.
Okeme, who expressed optimism that the issues raised by the union that led to the industrial action would be resolved, however, stressed the need for leadership of the union to come up with the cost implication of the salary arrears owed the striking workers in the state.
“There is need for the leadership of NULGE to come up with the cost implication of the salary arrears owed workers in the affected 21 local government councils in the state so that we can advise the state government on how to possibly resolve the industrial dispute”, he said.
He, therefore, urged the leadership of the union to call for state executive council meeting of NULGE with a view to suspending the strike action, noting that he would table the issues raised by the union before the state government.
