The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Rivers State have thrown down the gloves, demanding that police, currently occupying local government secretariats, pack up and leave.
What They Are saying
The demand came after an emergency state administrative council meeting at the NLC secretariat in Port Harcourt, the heart of Rivers State, on Friday. The assembly tackled three hot-button issues: the formation and launch of caretaker committees across 23 local government areas, the All Progressives Congress (APC) calling for a state of emergency, and the police’s bold takeover of council premises.
NLC Chairman Alex Agwanwor, while giving a nod to the police for their peacekeeping efforts, slammed the move as an infringement on workers’ rights. He stressed that workers are being unjustly locked out of their offices.
In a stern message to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, Agwanwor urged him to direct Rivers State Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu to let workers back into their offices to perform their lawful duties.
Why It Matters
The labour unions didn’t mince words about their next steps if ignored: they are ready to mobilize and reclaim their workspaces.
The call by the APC for a state of emergency in Rivers State also came under fire. NLC’s Agwanwor and TUC Chairman Ikechukwu Onyefuru both dismissed the notion as misguided and harmful to the state’s interests.
Bottom Line
This bold stance by the NLC and TUC marks a new chapter in the ongoing power tussle in Rivers State, with significant implications for local governance and workers’ rights.
