NLC Continues Strike In Bayelsa

The Nigeria Labour Congress, Bayelsa chapter, on Monday said it would continue its ongoing strike over non payment of salary since January 2016.

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

Mr. 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.”

“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. Dickson said.

But John Ndiomu, NLC’s state Chairman said in Yenagoa on Monday that the strike, which commenced on May 19 would not be called off until the government cleared the backlog of salaries.

“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,” Mr. Ndiomu said.

“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,” he said.

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

Public schools and banks also remained closed.

On Monday, Mr. Dickson reportedly held a meeting with permanent secretaries of all ministries to fashion out a way to enforce the no work no pay rule.