Labor Threatens Strike in Cross River Over Non-implementation of MoU

Organized labor in Cross River has threatened to down tool again if the memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the state government is not implemented.

The body, which comprises the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Joint Service Negotiating Council (JSNC), made the threat when it visited Mr. Timothy Akwaji, the new Head of Service, in Calabar on Tuesday.

The workers went on strike for 31 days, from October to November 2021, and later suspended it when the state government signed the MoU with them.

Speaking on behalf of the unions, the state NLC Chairman, Mr. Ben Ukpekpi, said it was shocking that some of the agreement reached with the state government are yet to be implemented.

Ukpekpi called for the reinstatement of 31 civil servants whose names were mistakenly omitted from government payroll, causing untold hardship on the workers.

“Thirty-one of our colleagues whose names were mistakenly removed from the payroll and are still going to work should be returned. I wonder how they survive with this kind of situation.

“Also, the termination of deductions for computers from workers, issues of annual incremental steps and implementation of 27.6 per cent teacher’s salary allowances should be looked into,” he said.

In his remarks, Akwaji assured the workers of his willingness to work with the labor unions for the betterment of the state.

He said that at the moment, a memo detailing some of the critical issues drawn from the MoU had been sent to the state government for possible approval.

He appealed to the labor leaders to be patient to enable government attend to the issues.