Imo workers begin warning strike over salary being owed them by Governor Rochas Okorocha

Imo State Labour unions yesterday rebuffed Governor Rochas Okorocha’s appeal not to embark on strike and directed all workers in the state to proceed on “warning strike” from today, Monday July 27.

A statement signed and issued in Owerri yesterday by labour movements in the state directed workers to proceed on warning strike from today through Friday July 31.




The statement was signed by chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr Hycinth Emele; President of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Ambrose Onuoha; Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Austin Chilakpu; Chairman of Joint Health Workers Union, JUHUSU, Nzenwata Francis; Secretary of NMA, Duruegwu Kyrian; Secretary of JUHUSU, Ikedi Onah; Secretary of NULGE, E. N. Iwuji, Chairman of the ANGNDP, Dr. D. C. Akaogwu and Assistant Secretary of ANGNDP, Dr. Emeka Okereke.

The NMA state chairman, Emele, who spoke yesterday in Owerri, disclosed that the association joined Labour because the governor allegedly failed to recognise the association, regretting the unfriendly treatment meted by the state government on doctors in its employ.

“Some people wonder why NMA joined the Organised Labour; the governor is not recognising NMA. Many of our medical doctor colleagues are not paid their salaries,” Emele said.

According to him, the governor had directed that workers in the 27 local councils be paid “one month half pay and cheque payment method instead of paying their full entitlement.” He further claimed that some workers were now being owed five months or more salary arrears, with retirees also dying in their numbers due to non-payment of pensions since the year began; and primary school teachers owed for upwards of 18 months.

He said the workers also frowned at the tactics of endless verifications without caring to pay all who have no service problems. “They vowed to resist the alleged antics of the state government by demanding that the bailout offered by the Federal Government be used to pay the workers in the state.”

Reacting to the planned strike by workers, Okorocha who accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari to America, on return to the state at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, on Saturday evening, invited workers for another dialogue on Wednesday.

He reminded the workers to consider the consistency he had maintained in paying them salaries in the past four years and Christmas bonuses he had given to them and shelve the proposed strike.

The governor noted that the economic meltdown had made the nonregular system of salary payment inevitable, stating that he would not breach the pact he signed with them to clear the arrears of their salaries.

“On my return from my trip abroad, on reaching Imo Airport, I learnt that my workers are trying to embark on strike, warning strike, which came to me by surprise. I want to appeal to workers in Imo State, especially those concerned to shun the idea of going on strike at this time we are trying to rebuild the entire state for good of our people and we did enter into agreement with them. I want to appeal to them to respect that agreement.

“I am also informed that the local government workers refused to collect their salaries because they are being paid by cheque. That is not very good for us. It is our duty to pay them their salaries in whatever form of shape. The most important thing is to collect their salaries,” he stated.