The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, and the Police Service Commission to redeploy the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, in order to avert an indefinite workers’ strike.
The NLC and TUC, on Friday, issued the ultimatum at a joint press briefing they organised to address the dispersing of 13,000 teachers at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium and the continued blockade of Obio/Akpor council secretariat.
Speaking during the event that held in Port Harcourt, the State NLC Chairman, Dr. Chris Oruge, explained that apart from the call for Mbu’s redeployment, the organised labour in the state was demanding an unreserved apology from the IGP and the state police commissioner for dispersing the teachers who came to collect their letters of posting.
Oruge said, “It will be recalled that Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu has continued to lock Obio/AkporLocal Government Council Secretariat despite a subsisting court order that the police should vacate the Obio/Akpor Local Government premises and allow the workers unrestricted access to their workplace.
“The organised labour views the action of the commissioner of police as a direct challenge to a competent order of the court and an invitation to organised labour anarchy in Rivers State.
“To this end, organised labour hereby gives 21 days ultimatum to the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission to address the issues raised above expeditiously. In the alternative, the organised labour will embark on an indefinite strike action.”
Also, the State TUC Chairman, Mr. Chika Onuegbu, expressed worry that Obio/Akpor council workers had not receive their May, June, July and August salaries due to the continued closure of the secretariat by the police.