Economic activities were Wednesday, May 18, 2016, grounded in Delta as officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) protested against the fuel price and electricity tariff hike in the country.
This is even as Governor Ifeanyi Okowa shunned officials of the NLC who compelled all government ministries, departments and agencies, banks, schools and other organizations to comply with the strike directive.
The protest paralyzed all activities in the state as all offices were under lock and key across the state capital.
Led by the state NLC vice chairman, Jonathan Jemirieyigbe, the NLC insisted that the strike is indefinite until further directives from the national headquarters of the NLC.
The vice chairman said over 80 percent compliance was recorded as the monitoring team combed all the agencies and compelled the civil servants and other workers to comply with the national directive of the NLC.
He said the strike would be indefinite until the pending issues of fuel price and electricity price hike was reduced and brought to the original price as agreed by the NLC.
According to him, “NLC is saying a reversal to the old order is the only solution to calling off the strike. We are carrying out orders from the national headquarters of NLC. All ministries, departments and agencies are complying with the order.
“We disobeyed the court orders because it was not in line with procedures. The judiciary is fond of giving obnoxious court orders. Before an injunction is giving, the parties concerned must be carried along. But NLC was not carried along.
“Labour leaders who refused to join the strike are government agents and sponsors. This strike is indefinite. We say no to fuel price hike, no to electricity tariff hike, the only solution is reversal to the old price”.
But officials of the NLC were angered over the long wait the governor subjected them to as the sun scorched them while waiting for the governor to address them at the gate of the state government house.
The NLC vice chairman, who expressed displeasure over the long period the governor kept them waiting before the chief of staff, Tam Brisibe, emerged, said though the strike is not directed at the state government, the action of the governor was a reflection of the insensitive nature of leaders in Nigeria.
The chief of staff who emerged from the government house after almost an hour of waiting, said the governor is aware of the support of NLC, noting that anything that affects NLC is taken serious by the state governor.
Accompanied by the special adviser to the governor on labour and industrial relations, Mike Okeme, the chief of staff said the battle being fought by the NLC is not for themselves but for the generality of Nigerians, even as he assured that the lingering issue between NLC and the Nigerian government would be addressed.
