A/Ibom NLC threatens indefinite strike over unpaid entitlements

From Iniabasi Umo, Uyo

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Akwa Ibom State has threatened an indefinite strike over the continued refusal of the Government to pay workers entitlements.
State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Sunny James told newsmen in Uyo on Thursday that workers in Akwa Ibom would join the planned national strike as all was not well with workers, particularly local government workers in the state.
James threatened that if the strike action planned by the national body of the union takes place, that of workers in the state would be indefinite.
He mentioned their grievances to include: failure of the state government to pay gratuity to council workers for 10 years, and non-implementation of promotion arrears among others.
”This means that every other office will receive their pensions and then those in the local government system would not. Discussions on this has been going on for some weeks now with the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and I do hope that government would give peace a chance to allow benefits go to whoever it is due. 
”For gratuity we are not doing well in Akwa Ibom State. There have been a halt since 2016 in the civil service gratuity, no explanation has been given to us four years along the line.
”In the Local Government administration, since 2010 it has not been paid to teachers; since 2012 it has not been paid to the local government workers. Therefore 10 years after retirement you cannot collect your gratuity, so workers are not very happy.
”What is very burning at the moment is the non implementation of promotion to Akwa Ibom workers. You have the letter but it is not implemented. 
”We are getting very uncomfortable about it. If the strike proceeds as planned, those are some of the things we may have to ask Akwa Ibom government to address before we go back to work. if the strike is allowed, then Akwa Ibom state government must solve our problems,” he stated.
The NLC Chairman emphasised that the issue of next of kin of late Primary school workers was the most pathetic situation in the state.
He said, ”If God does not help you and you are a primary school teacher in Akwa Ibom and you die in service, that is the end of it because your next of kin will not access your money.
”It is very unfortunate that they have not accessed their money since 1989, that is 31 years! But negotiations are ongoing and I want to appreciate the new Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftency Affairs. 
”If other commissioners of that Ministry had the same political will as he does today, then we would not have had this problem. In the nearest future we may start to have adequate attention in that direction,” maintained.