IMO STATE WORKERS BEGIN INDEFINITE STRIKE OVER UNPAID SALARIES

Government activities in Imo State will, with effect from today, remain grounded, following the indefinite industrial action called by labour leaders in the state. According to a public announcement broadcast in Radio Nigeria, Heartland FM and Hot FM, signed by all the labour leaders, in lauding the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Austen Chilakpu, all workers were ordered to remain in their respective homes until otherwise directed by the union leaders. The aggrieved labour leaders hinged their current action on the unwillingness of the state government to fulfil its own part of the recent agreement it freely entered with labour, over the backlog of unpaid salaries and allowances owed workers. A civil servant that spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, fumed that “Governor Rochas Okorocha chose to travel to the United States of America, when he should have stayed at home to resolve the brewing labour crisis that has now hit the state.” Continuing, the worker, who accused the Governor of double standard, wondered why he should send his son overseas to study, when his administration not only prides itself with running free education at all levels, but had also been claiming that Imo State University, compete with other universities across the world.