Okorocha asks presidency to ignore NLC’s plea for action on suspended workers

Aka Ikenga tackles state over insensitivity, lack of innovation

IMO State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, to ignore the call that his government ‘be brought to order’ by President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, over the sack of about 3,000 workers of in the state’s parastatals.

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo, Okorocha maintained that the disengagement of workers in the agencies was because they were found wanting in productivity.

According to him,”we would be austere with the truth if we pretend not to know about the concern of the NLC leadership over the suspended staff of the affected Parastatals and Agencies. Comrade Wabba and his people are doing what they should be expected to do in the circumstance. But our only worry is that in showing solidarity or concern over the fate of the suspended workers, they have failed to objectively look at the issues or circumstances warranting their suspension.”

He added, “The affected Parastatals and Agencies in the state have been unproductive since 1999, to be honest about the whole thing. And we challenge the NLC to contradict us on this claim. A place like Water Board, for instance, was established to give Imo people water. And since 1999, they have failed to do that. Yet, they get their subventions. We stand to be contradicted.”

Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, has described the recent suspension of about 3000 workers by the Imo State Government as “wickedness of man against man,” calling on the governor to reverse the decision.

The group cautioned that the state government may be heading for self-destruction if it continues with the policy, lamenting that the travails of the disengaged workers was ‘unjust.’

In a statement, signed by the Chief Goddy Uwazurike and Okey Ilofulunwa, its President and General Secretary, respectively, the group said, as an oil producing state, Imo has to get creative with its revenue drive, as its neighbour, Abia State, was has been able to effectively meet its salary obligations.

According to the group, “the facts are that Imo State Government has concessioned 19 parastatals and the workers are now out of job. Some of these workers have put in more than 30 years in service and are looking forward to retirement with the attendant payment of gratuity and pensions.”