This year’s Workers’ Day in Rivers State would have better not been for failing to address the problems of workers in the state.
The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, said this in a statement while reacting to the May Day Celebration in the state.
According to Jerry Needam, the publicity secretary of the party and undersigned of the statement, it’s baffling that the state governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who was represented at the occasion by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru refused to address the issues raised by the organized labour including the backlog of salary arrears, allowances, illegal deduction of workers salaries and unpaid pensions of retired civil servants.
“This is most unfortunate and surprising that an event used all over the world to attend to issues pertaining to labour as the main workforce of the state could not be considered for a pressing comment, let alone addressing them by a government that claims to be working for the welfare of the people.
If these issues do not form the agenda of the Workers Day celebration, what then will?, the ACN queried.
The ACN spokeman, Jerry Needam has therefore enjoined the workers in the state to go into prayer and fasting, warning that they should not allow God to leave them having been failed by the Rivers State government.
“Even the new secretariat for Nigeria union of journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council that has sacrificed much for the well-being of the state which the government promised to build for the council for two years running couldn’t be mentioned”, the ACN regretted.
ACN therefore, enjoins the Rivers State government to apologize to workers in the state for failing to take advantage of the 2013 May Day, to address some of the many problems confronting workers in the state.
Jerry Needam, JP
Publicity Secretary
Action Congress of Nigeria
Rivers State.
