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Civil servants in Imo State and the national leadership of the organised labour on Wednesday started a three-day warning strike to protest against the concession of 19 parastatals by the Governor Rochas Okorocha-led administration.
The civil servants described as obnoxious and crude, the government concession policy, which led to the dismissal of over 3,000 state workers.
While public schools, banks, government institutions, local council secretariats, filling stations, and supermarkets, among others were completely shut, the Owerri Main Market and its adjoining commercial areas witnessed low patronage.Heavily-armed policemen were seen manning some strategic points.
The civil servants had around 8am converged on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) secretariat on Edede Street, Owerri, where they were jointly briefed by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
After the briefing, they commenced a peaceful march to the Orlu Road Roundabout.
They vowed not to succumb to government harassment, coercion or intimidation to shelve their planned strike over the concession policy.
The state Chairman of the NLC, Austin Chilakpu, had said the protesting workers would commence an indefinite strike if the government failed to meet their demand to rescind the controversial concession policy and recall the sacked workers.
The workers wore black clothes and chanted solidarity songs, while displaying placards bearing inscriptions, some which read, “Okorocha, you are wicked,” “Rochas revert your policies, it is anti-workers” and “We cannot fear your antics again,” among others.
They eventually stormed the Government House despite the heavy presence of security men, where they were addressed by Okorocha.
The governor said the ‘suspension’ of parastatals workers was for the overall interest of the state.
He noted that his government which started in 2011 never owed workers, adding that it was only in Imo State that N20,000 minimum wage was paid to workers.
Punch
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