By Precious David (9News Nigeria)
All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State calls on the Governor of Delta State, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa to stop his divide and rule tactics, introduced into Nigeria Labour Congress, Delta State. The call has become inevitable in view of the recent revelations of the Governor’s underhand scheming in ensuring that he gets his way at all cost towards the unlawful and illegal reduction of the salaries of Civil Servants in the State.
Information available to APC Delta State is to the effect that part of the underhand tactics of the State government was to reach a compromise with some members of the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress, Delta State to reduce the salaries and earnings of Civil Servants in other ministries/departments/agencies whilst excluding Civil Servants working in the ministries/departments/agencies where these NLC leaders work. Part of the plan put in place to realize their goal was the stage-managed protest by workers in the Delta State Hospital Management Board some days ago.
As a result of the stage-managed protest, the State Government working in line with this unholy scheme, decided to excuse workers of the State Hospital Management Board and Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara from the salary reduction.
As we are all aware, the State NLC Chairman works in the Delta State Hospital Management Board and as such the salary reduction will not affect him and his cohorts. What a leadership!
While we concede to the fact that health workers who are at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19 deserve all forms of encouragement and motivation, we are not unaware of the fact that they have continued to enjoy special duties allowances from the State Government. However, whether the State Government is keeping to its terms of the bargain as at when due is an issue for another day!
The position of Delta APC is that the leadership of NLC in the State has soiled its hands and lost all credibility. Therefore, workers in Delta State should come out of their cocoon, ask questions and demand for better representation. Government does not exist without the workers and the governed.
The State Government should be creative and cut waste by relieving the myriads of Aides that are of no governance value to save the needed funds, instead of the rush to plunge the state into chaos by attempting to slash workers’ salaries. Should the State get to the juncture where slashing the salaries of workers become necessary, Delta APC will join hands with the Government to appeal to the Civil Servants. Today, the Governor should look inwards and be frugal first.
The fundamental objective of the Nigeria Labour Congress is to protect, defend and promote the rights, well-being and interest of all workers, pensioners, trade unions and the working class in general and any conduct by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Delta State that falls below this standard is unacceptable.
Sylvester Imonina, Esq.,
Publicity Secretary, APC, Delta State.
23rd July, 2020.
