Strike Action: DSS Picks Labour Chairman In Cross River

Posted by Thandiubani on Tue 12th Oct, 2021 - tori.ng

This comes after NLC and the Trade Union Congress embarked on strike action in the state.

The state chairman of NLC in Cross River state, Comrade Ben Ukpebi has been invited by the The Department of State Services (DSS) for questioning, according to a report by DailyPost.

This comes after NLC and the Trade Union Congress embarked on strike action in the state.

General Secretary of NLC, Chief Ita Ayi said in spite of the arrest of their chairman, the strike must be sustained.

The Special Adviser to Governor Benedict Ayade on labour matters, Effiong Ita Umoh has also reacted angrily to the industrial action embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, effective today.

Civil servants in the State commenced total industrial action and blocked all government offices in Calabar and other major towns following directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

Speaking over a private radio station, Sparkling FM, Umoh said that the leadership of NLC had no right to block government offices and would be held responsible for any damage government properties would suffer as a result of their actions.

He said that government offices were not only occupied by labour union members but political appointees and other officials should have right to access their offices

“Whereas NLC/TUC have the right to embark on strike as stipulated by industrial laws, yet they don’t have the right to seal up government offices where there are political appointees and other officials.

“What they have done is debarring non-members of labour unions access to their work. They will pay for any damages if anything happens.

“They never gave us time to meet with them even when they notified us late. They insisted on meeting Gov Ayade in person to press their demands even when the governor has designated aides in charge of all issues.

“We have met all their demands except gratuities. We are not even owing salaries. We have implemented promotions..”, he stated.