NLC CALLS OFF PROTESTS IN IMO, AGREES TO COLLECT 70% OF MONTHLY ALLOCATION

The one day protest embarked upon by the members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo State has been called off. The strike was called off after the state government and the organized labour reached an agreement to share the monthly allocation that comes to the state at the ratio of 7o% for the NLC and 30% for the state government.

The NLC were protesting the suspension of workers of selected Parastatals and Agencies in the state and the agreement was a product of the Joint Committee made up of the leaders of the organized Labour in the state, their National leaders and Government Representatives.

Receiving a copy of the agreement yesterday at the Government House from the National President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Governor Okorocha

Said , “my action, suspending the workers of the Parastatals and Health outfits was of no personal benefits to me or my family, but to save the soul of the state and guaranteeing the future of Imo children yet unborn. On the issue of the 70% and 30% sharing formula for labour and government respectively, Governor Okorocha stated, “I have accepted the formula. And I promise with the 30 percent given to me, I assure Imo people that I will make them happy with that. I am happy that the workers are satisfied with the 70% percent.”

“No worker in the state will be punished for participating in the protest. The agreement will place the truth on a practical manner because people never believed when I say what is being gotten from the Federation Account. I enjoin all governors to copy the Imo formula as it will help to understand every government better.”

The governor continued, “I have done all within my reach to please the workers of Imo and provide democracy dividends to the people of the state despite the difficult economic situation in the country. It is unfortunate that over the years, the fumes coming out of the exhaust pipe in Imo are only smokes of consumption and no smoke of production. That can never help to develop the state.”

Speaking further at the meeting, Governor Okorocha said, “I share in the sentiment of the workers of doing the old things, the old way without any positive result. And if the state must be secured for the future generation, then sacrifice is inevitable. For those wondering who has lost or won in the conflict, there is no winner. There is no loser. We are all winners in the struggle.”

“I believe that the culture in Nigeria does not allow collective ownership of properties, people do better when there is individualism in the ownership of properties. That explains why the concessioned properties of the state government are doing well. I thank labour for doing me a great favour by this agreement.”

Comrade Wabba before handing over copy of the agreement to Governor Okorocha expressed the appreciation of Labour for the constitution of the Joint Committee and the agreement reached, assuring that labour in the state will continue to work together with the government to improve on the lives of Imo people.

Comrade Wabba further remarked “I thank the Security Agencies for doing wonderful job in ensuring that there was no breakdown of law and order. And hoodlums did not take advantage of the situation to cause havoc. The workers will continue to give their best in the service of the nation.”

Wabba continued, “I enjoin the government to ensure that the agreement be given effect and implementation to avoid future reoccurrence of the problem. The agreement signed will be the end of the challenges hat necessitated the Joint Committee.”

Part of the agreement read thus, “that Government will retain and run all its affairs with not more than 30% of the verified revenue for the month, while the committee will apply the balance of 70% in the settlement of salaries of public servants and pensioners. The understanding is with effect from January 2016.”

Also present at the meeting is the Chairman of the joint committee, Hon. Ikenna Emeh.