The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Rivers State Council said they are ready to take their destiny in their hands by not only getting set for an industrial action over their unpaid entitlements which the state government is owing them but to get actively involved in the present political dispensation to ensure what they called “real change” in the system.
According to the state chairperson, Comrade (Mrs.) Beatrice Itubo in a chat with newsmen in her office in Port Harcourt “despite the last minute intervention which produced a tripartite committee of the government, Labour and the pensioners to settle the dispute, the Rivers State government has again reneged in its promise,” he said.
She made it clear that the NLC has completed sensitization and ready for action any moment from then. Mrs. Itubo also stated that she has no personal issue with governor Wike or his political ambition but only defending the mandate given to her by the workers.
“What shows that the governor will not replicate the same attitude towards the workers when given the mandate as the president or even worse?” she asked.
She reiterated her threat to mobilize the workforce against the governor if he continue in this recalcitrant manner.
“He has refused blatantly to pay the pensioners, promotion arrears, yearly increment of workers salaries or employment of workers despite all entreaties,” he said.
The NLC chairperson said there was no need delaying on the issue or setting up another committee other than for the governor to make pronouncement and pay since there is enough money in the coffer, adding that the governor is just being unnecessarily stubborn.
She further disclosed that the black attire wore by the workers on this year’s May Day celebration which was the workers suggestion was enough embarrassment to the government to settle them without much persuasion.
The NLC chairperson used the opportunity to call on the workers to go out and register with the Labour Party and as well get their permanent voters cards and be ready to vote in persons of credible character who would protect their interest through the Labour Party platform. She also called on those interested to contest election to do so on the platform.
She made it known that this is not the time to be on the sideline “Get involved in partisan politics and when any of them come to you with their ill-gotten money or bags of rice, collect them and still do the needful,” she charged.
Asked about the rigging of election which enables unpopular candidate, get into power, she assured that the electronic system that is in place this time around will frustrate the effort of the riggers or hijackers of electoral materials, adding that the era of hijacking electoral materials is gone forever.
On her own political ambition Comrade Mrs Itubo said she was still consulting and will make herself available at the end of the day for any position.
On the killing of a Christian lady, late Miss Deborah Samuel, she said she was pained over the development and wondered whether Nigeria is now a banana republic that precious lives can be taken at will.
She stated that the primary responsibility of any government or a leader is to be able to protect lives and property and that when that cannot be guaranteed, they have failed.
Mrs. Itubo said not even Jesus Christ or prophet Mohammadu themselves were forcing people to their religion during their time and wondered aloud why their muslim extremists would be allowed to take peoples lives at the slightest provocation while the government and security operatives looked the other way.
She called on the government to ensure that the matter is not swept under the carpet while equally appealing to Christians to continue praying and allow God to revenge for them.
She however, advised the government at all levels to do something about the incessant killings of innocent Christians at the slightest provocation while also advising religious leaders to preach about religious tolerance as according to her since none of the two major religions preaches violence.
“The people, she said should be allowed freedom of worship of any religion of their choice including objects, stones or tree without force,” she declared.
