RIVERS CP, MBU JOSPEH MBU
The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have given the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar and the Police Service Commission, PSC, a 21-day ultimatum to redeploy the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu, or contend with an indefinite workers’ strike.
The two foremost labour unions gave the ultimatum at a joint press briefing they organised on Friday to address the dispersal of 13,000 newly recruited teachers at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium on Wednesday and the continued blockade of Obio/Akpor council secretariat.
Speaking during the briefing that held in Port Harcourt, the State NLC Chairman, Dr. Chris Oruge, explained that apart from the call for Mbu’s redeployment, organised labour in the state was demanding an unreserved apology from Messers Abubakar and Mbu for dispersing the teachers, who came to collect their posting letters.
Oruge said, “It will be recalled that Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu has continued to lock Obio/Akpor Local 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.”
Similarly, the State TUC Chairman, Mr. Chika Onuegbu, expressed worry that Obio/Akpor council workers had not received their May, June, July and August salaries due to the continued closure of the secretariat by the police.
The Rivers CP had on Thursday justified his dispersal of the 13,000 teachers saying they were “touts and miscreants” hired by Governor Rotimi Amaechi to protest against the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
-PUNCH
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