The on-going labour crisis in the State which has degenerated into
strike action embarked upon by the Nigerian labour Congress (NLC) and
Trade Union Congress (TUC) Imo State branch since the past one week
will any moment from now be a thing of the past. Reason, the Speaker
of Imo State House of Assembly , The Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu has
stepped in to resolve the crisis which has crippled civil service
activities since the past one week.
In a meeting held at the Assembly Conference Hall on the 23rd
September 2011,Speaker Uwajumogu thanked the Nigerian Labour Congress
and Trade Union Congress Imo State branch for the matured manner they
conducted themselves throughout the negotiation process. Rt.Hon.
Uwajumogu who was represented at the meeting by Hon Brother Stan
Dara(member representing Orsu constituency )declared that Gov. Rochas
Okorocha was the first Governor to accept the payment of N18,000
minimum wage because He (Owelle Rochas Okorocha) knew that civil
servants deserves better treatment. Uwajumogu therefore pleaded with
the labour union to allow government work out modalities on how to
handle the minimum wage crisis by calling off the strike action,
insisting that the Government and her people were the losers due to
the indefinite strike .Hear Mr Speaker, —–‘’We have had executive
session on how to tackle this problem and by the grace of God ,Imo
State will wriggle out of this N18,000 wage bill crisis. This is a
listening Government .The Governor means well for this state .The Imo
State House of Assembly will assist to solve this problem and we have
the capacity to do so .Please I plead with you to call off the
strike’’unquote
In his speech the Commissioner for Justice and the State
Attorney General, Barrister Soronnadi Njoku thanked all the people
present but pleaded for understanding from the labour union .He
specifically thanked the proactive speaker for initiating the
negotiation between the state government and the labour union. Said he
‘I am the chairman of the Joint Committee, that is, the government and
the labour. The Committee has the mandate of the Executive Governor to
work out modalities that is acceptable both to the Government and
labour. We must arrive at our destination which is to resolve this
strike imbroglio. We, the government are ready to pay the recommended
N18,000 . The labour is aware of this and they have confidence in this
committee, this strike will be called off.
Also in His speech, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC)
Comrade O J Onyekawa thanked the state government for accepting to
pay the N18,000 minimum wage .He equally revealed that the Traditional
Rulers and other prominent leaders in the state have intervened on the
matter expressing hope that the strike action will soon be a thing of
the past .He however cautioned the press for publishing sensational
articles bordering on the N18,000 minimum wage ,saying that no
political party was sponsoring them.
The State Secretary of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade
Austin Chilakpu declared that the labour force in Imo State supports
His Excellency The Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha. He also thanked
Rt. Hon. Ben Uwajumogu for initiating the negotiation between the
State Government and the labour Union. Hear Comrade Austin
,———–‘We were directed by our apex body that any state that
does not resolve this problem of minimum wage by 31st of August2011
should be followed up with strike. But because the State Governor is
doing his best in this State, we decided to shelve the strike in
August 2011 .Infact during the electioneering campaign, Owelle Rochas
Okorocha visited us on three occasions and promised to have a
harmonious relationship with us. We understand the challenges of the
present administration and the problems facing it ,but please Mr
Speaker we are now hoping on you to help us. .Please Mr Speaker
,(ably represented by Hon Stan Dara) help us tell the State Government
to implement their own side of the agreement.
In his remark, the Head of Service (Mr Evans Uzokwe)
pleaded for understanding from the labour union, insisting that every
problem usually have solution. He specifically thanked the Speaker of
Imo State House Of Assembly for initiating and facilitating the
negotiation between the State Government and the labour
It is hopeful that the strike action embarked upon by the
state labour union would be called off .Other honourable members who
attended the meeting includes; Hon Kingsley Dimaku ,Hon Simeon Iwunze,
Clerk of the House, Chief B C Duru ,Chief of Staff IMHA Hon kodichi
Anamekwe, SA Protocol Hon Chukwunenye Irouno, SA General duties Hon
Emeka Ahaneku, amongst others.
—-
IMO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY THANKS THE LABOUR UNIONThe Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Benjamin
Uwajumogu on behalf of himself, and other Honourable Members thank
most immensely the leadership and members of Labour Union in Imo
State led by the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress
and also Chairman Joint negotiating committee for listening to the
plea of the IMHA to shelve their strike action embarked upon few days
ago .The Imo State House of Assembly is not unmindful of the
challenges and problems facing the civil servants in the state hence steps have
been taken to genuinely implement the minimum wage for them .We also
thank all the Labour Union for partnering with us and also for a successful
negotiation.
.
SIGNED
Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha
Special Adviser on Media to the RT. Hon. Speaker, IMHA
