By now the, Imo State government would have fashioned a formula aimed at curtailing the new found radicalism which the organised labour in the state has adopted protecting its rights in recent times.
After witnessing a rather smooth run with the government of Owelle Rochas Okorocha in its first term, leading to a strike free session, another chapter in the government-workers relationship in Imo. To herald Okorocha’s second term journey that began on May 29, 2015, the organized labour comprising the Joint Negotiating Council, JNC, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, Nigeria Medical Association, NMA. Others are the JUHUSU and the NULGE, the umbrella body of local government workers embarked on warning strike.
Barley two months after Okorocha took another oath to serve, labour struck and activities in government ministries, departments and agencies grinded to a halt. It was a period of gnashing of teeth for many who had businesses to transact with government in the period of discomfort caused by the industrial action.
Some interesting developments that trailed the one week show of the workers’ Aluta continua attracted my attention. Initially, I had wanted to take on the labour leaders following a purported communique the workers reached with government early last month. A complaint from the pensioners who kicked against the content of the document labour leaders and government officials signed informed my decision to delve into the matter before the strike action. Another factor is that the workers stomached whatever the state government dished to them in the past four years forcing them not to down tools any day except for pockets of protests bordering on poor welfare conditions by some affected parastatals. The latest strike is therefore a case study.
The politicisation of the recent strike by government defense mechanism gave further thoughts about the styles employed by the Okorocha when found wanting in the act of governance. In response to a solidarity visit by selected youths who met him at the Government House, Owerri, Okorocha did inform the public that the workers strike was politically motivated adding that the state government will not hesitate to sack those who failed to return to their duty posts.
Ominous signs of a strained relationship between the labour and government began when the irregular payment of salaries deepened in the state. A thank you message the workers after voting the governor was non payment of salaries. As the harsh economic conditions deepened the workers were at the receiving end of lack of funds to run the state. The get out of the woods the state government sought for escape routes. Workers alleged that apart from plots to downsize the workforce their were also plans by government to slash the salaries of workers amidst non payment of areas. To apply this module, stories have it that government raised a committee to embark on verification and possible take over of on the spot payment. However, beyond the facade is grand design to reduce the salaries to about 50% which the governor’s mouthpiece denied.
However, the bubble burst when workers of the Imo state house of assembly opened the can of rejection trailing the planned slash of workers salaries. In the ensuing confusion, civil servants in ministries of agriculture, health and judiciary joined the war of salary cut when reports filtered in that their monthly take home has been tampered and reduced.
In the ensuing quagmire, labour unions came out. Further details reveal that the various bodies gathered to challenge the state government. The end result was an agreement the labour union representatives still insist it was a communiqué after a meeting with government officials. A critical study of the said communiqué indicates that the workers’ leaders may have imbibed self destructive tendencies. This view became pronounced when the pensioners addressed journalists in the state. The retired civil servants distanced their organisation from the so called communique. According to them the decision to allow government do another head count and agree that `the outstanding pensions for the previous months will be spread for a period of 36 months from August 2015` was unacceptable and breach of trust.
The claims of the pensioners opened a Pandora box to evaluate the forthrightness of the workers body to protect interest of its members against government aggressions. Part of the outrageous decision reached was that payment of outstanding salaries `is subject to the available bail out fund` The patatstals were not left out in the suspected betrayal by labour leaders when a clause suggested that the workers may forfeit salary arrears since the labour and government agreed that June salaries alone will be paid while outstanding will be spread for a period of six months with a caveat `if, however, the economic situation continues to be unfavourable Also I instead of making cases for health workers owed months of salary areas the union leaders who appended their signatures joined government to tackle their approach to duties by empowering concerned authorities to take action. Worse still health workers are at the verge of losing their CONHESS and CONMESS salary structure when labour agreed that if the worsening economic situation continues a review may occur. A more devastating approach is the issue of clause at the end which states that all issues that would lead to strike must be `exhaustively discussed by both parties before embarking on the last option
It was surprising when Okorocha and his lieutenants returned to their traditional blame game when pushed to the wall. Since workers who are owed salaries running into months will be willing tools in the hands of shadow opposition to embark on strike, government should better make public their party registration numbers for proper authentication. Accusation levelled at a top career civil servant that he was instrumental to the pro government rally which greeted the workers strike is somehow debasing. I join in prayers that the impasse be settled for the good of Imo
