The Organized Labour in River State on Tuesday suspended it’s planned protest s in Port Harcourt ,over a lingering industrial dispute ,which led to sealing of the Nigerian Labour Congress Secretariat.
The suspension was sequel to the agreement reached between the union and the Rivers State Government at a meeting held at the government house Port Harcourt.
According to the NLC President,Mr Ayuba Wanna, the organised labour agreed to resolve contending issues after signing a Collective Bargaining Agreement on the implementation of the new national minimum wage and consequential adjustments.
Wabba, who read the communique signed by both parties, said that labour has agreed to suspend the planned protest.
Comrade Wabba announced that” the State NLC secretariat that was sealed for the correction of structural defects, would be unsealed while Government continues with correction work, if any”.
He stated that “the State Government would immediately restore the remittance of check-off dues and pay all outstanding arrears to the respective Labour Unions”.
According to him, Government would pay the salaries withheld from health workers due to the 2017 strike action.
The NLC President also said the Parties agreed to set up a Tripartite Committee to resolve the adjustment of pensions in line with the Constitution and payment of Pension and Gratuity.
Parties, he said, agreed to take steps to discontinue all on-going litigations in relation to hitherto disputed matters.
Comrade Wabba added that no worker would be victimised on account of his or her involvement in the industrial dispute with the State Government.
He commended Governor Nyesom Wike for his statesmanship that facilitated the resolution of the dispute.
He added that the parties agreed that no worker would be victimised as a result of the planned rally.
Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Secretary to the Rivers State Government confirmed that both parties agreed that the protest be suspended while contending issues are resolved.
Danagogo urged workers in the state to go about their normal businesses without fear.
He gave assurance that all promises by the state government would be kept.
Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Secretary to the State Government, Rufus Godwins, Head of Service, Paulinus Nsirim, Commissioner for Information and Communications and Dr. Ayebaesin Beredugo signed on behalf of Rivers State Government.
Emmanuel Ugboaja, Gen. Secretary, NLC, Musa Lawal, Secretary General, TUC, Mrs Beatrice Itubo, Chairman, NLC, Rivers State, Austin Jonah, Chairman, TUC, Rivers State, Chuku Emecheta, JPSNC, Rivers State and Obi Fortune, Secretary General, TUC, Rivers State signed on behalf of the Organized Labour.
