Rivers State Government has obtained an ex-parte order barring three labour unions from embarking on strike in the state.
Labour unions in the state will at midnight on Monday embark on an indefinite strike over the failure of the Rivers State Government to negotiate the new minimum wage.
This follows the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum issued to the state government which started on Monday 16th March 2020.
The order with suit no: NICN/PHC/41/2020 obtained from the National Industrial Court, Port Harcourt under Justice M Bashir sought an interim injunction barring labour from embarking on their proposed strike.
The order also bars labour from interfering with the terms of service of the state civil service.
The ultimatum by labour to embark on an indefinite strike follows an extensive deliberation of both the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Councils in Port Harcourt.
Organized labour had in a statement signed by the state secretaries of NLC, Comrade Matthew Olabe, that of TUC, Comrade Prince Ndukwe and their Joint public service negotiating council 1,2 and 3, Comrade Opuwari Ogbada, expressed displeasure on the non-seriousness of the state government to resolve the issues in contention despite the window of opportunities offered by the state leadership after the intervention of the national leadership.
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It said the contending issues include the reconvening of the negotiating team on the implementation of the new national minimum wage, non- implementation of promotion and annual incremental benefits since the inception of the present administration in 2015, payment of outstanding salary arrears to some workers for February and March 2016 and October 2017.
Other issues are the nonpayment of pension and gratuity to pensioners, disappearance of the one hundred million Naira workers revolving housing/car loan scheme and the immediate removal of the retired head of service and other retired heads of ministries, departments and agencies.
The organized labour said the failure of the state government to demonstrate seriousness in addressing the above issues at the expiration of the seven days ultimatum with effect from Monday 16th March 2020, workers will have no option than to embark on an indefinite strike action without further notice from midnight of Monday 23rd March 2020.
