Workers in Imo State are poised for showdown against the state government arbitrary sack of its employees.
Trumpeta learnt that the labour unions, especially the Joint Negotiating council, JNC, would be addressing the workers in Wednesday over Sundry issues affecting workers in the state.
Top on the issue is the controversial sack of eleven permanent secretaries who were asked to go from the workforce before their date of retirement.
Though JNC Chairman, Comrade Okwarah confirmed the Wednesday address to workers but could not give further details on possible outcome.
However, Trumpeta was reliably informed that the matter concerning the sack of the unlucky permanent secretaries will be in the front burner before other issues like deduction of workers salaries for the compulsory ID card project may follow
At the wake of the Perm Secs sack, the labour unions confronted the state government on the issue and punctured reason behind the action of the Governor.
Armed with a court decision obtained in one of the South South states where a sacked Perm Sec won a case against the state government over forced retirement the workers filed a petition against the sack order.
The labour had argued that it was a dangerous precedent and sad example in the history of Imo civil service. And 1999 constitution as amended empowers the Governor the power to appoint Perm Secs but cannot fire at will since section 208 implies that he can only service fire relevant institutions like the Civil Service Commission. Only organs of government and CSC can order for disciplinary measure against a permanent secretary who may have been found guilty of any offense.
According to top labour source, the Governor is allegedly playing hide and seek game with the issue of reconsidering the sacked permanent secretaries as he seems not to be interested in adhering to workers demand.
The inability of the Governor to comply to the recall of Perm Secs may lead to another round of strike which Wednesday’s meeting will decide.
