Bayelsa NLC continues strike despite sack threat

Posted by News Express | 24 May 2016 | 2,994 times

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Bayelsa Chapter, on Monday said that it was continue ongoing strike over non payment of salary since January 2016.

Gov. Seriake Dickson had on Sunday ordered the striking workers to resume work on Monday or be sacked.

Dickson, who said that the state had no funds due to dwindling revenue from the federation account, noted that he would invoke the “no work no pay rule.”

He said: “The strike is unpatriotic, it is politically motivated and uncalled for. We have held several meetings with labour leaders and I have proposed many options to them including paying 50 per cent salary but they rejected it and chose to go on strike.

“We have drawn the line and we give them till Monday, any one that doesn’t show up should consider himself sacked, we shall send out a monitoring team, I will also go round myself.”

Mr John Ndiomu, NLC State Chairman, said in Yenagoa on Monday that their strike, which commenced on May 19 would not be called-off until the government clear the backlog of salaries.

His words: “The strike is on it third day, and we’re still on it; it is true that the State Government has started the payment for January alone but we will continue to stay at home until the union reaches a decision.

“Our members should also remain calm; series of meetings have been going on with the government and we shall also be meeting today (Monday), but I am still urging our members to remain at home.”

The state secretariat however remained shut while soldiers were stationed at the gates.

Public schools, banks also remained closed.

It was gathered that Dickson was holding a meeting with Permanent Secretaries of all the ministries to fashion out a way to enforce the no work no pay rule.

Source: News Express