Delta State governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa may have been angered by the nationwide strike embarked upon by members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), as the governor avoided protesters in his state when he refused to appear before them in government House, Asaba.
The leadership of NLC in the state slammed Okowa for ignoring and keeping them under the scourging sun for over two hours before sending a representative to address them just as they accused the governor of wanting to jettison the protest which is directed against the federal government.
Addressing the governor, the first Vice chairman of NLC in the state, Mr. Jonathan Jemirieyigbe, who spoke on behalf of the state chairman, David Ofoayeno, informed the governor that the protest was as a result of the recent hike in the pump price of fuel from N86. 00 to N145. 00 and the increase in electricity tariff.
“The fact that the epileptic power supply do not warrant any increase for now but the federal government went ahead and increased the electricity tariff. As if that pain is not enough on Nigerians, they went again and their Maradonic manner to increase the fuel price from N86. 00 to N145. 00 and so the Nigerian Labour Congress which is the largest umbrella of workers in Nigeria has directed the workforce to proceed on an indefinite strike starting from today and a peaceful rally”.
“as labour we are not ignorant of the fact that as labour leaders in Delta State, we are mindful of the need to intimate the governor that the strike as directed has been brought to bear in Delta State and this strike is also indefinite and the only thing that will make us to suspend this strike and rally is when we get a contrary directive from our national headquarters”.
According to him, “we are here to let the governor know that all Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) including government parastatals are under lock and key and until the strike is suspended as may be directed by our national head office, we will not be happy to see any contrary action been carried out by way of government directives to workers in Delta State”, he warned.
Adding, “we patiently waited even though we are not happy for keeping us under the scourging heat from the sun but because as a labour friendly governor since the inception of this administration. So we won’t see any reason why the government of Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa will want to jettison it coming to address labour. For almost an hour or two we have been kept under the sun, we are not very happy but that is the prize of liberalization of the workers from the chains and shackles of insensitive leaders we have in this country”.
Addressing the protesters, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr. Tam Bresibe who represented the governor told the mammoth crowd that the governor was in a serious security meeting, making it impossible for him to address them himself.
He said, “the reason the governor did not come to address you immediately he heard that you were at the gate, was because right now he is having a security meeting with some officials and that is the only reason why he is not here to talk to you himself. We waited if we could take some time for him to come to address you”, he said.
The governor acknowledged that the battle embarked upon by the NLC was for Nigerians and not for selfish reasons, “we know that this battle that you are in is not for yourselves, it is for the Nigerian people”.
