By Tina Amanda
Trade Union Congress TUC has called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, revamp Eleme axis of the East West road as it is negatively affecting the mental health and productivity of its members.
State Chairman TUC Rivers State, Comrade Ikechukwu Onyefuru, in an interview with our Correspondent, lamented that the East-West road is causing so much trauma to oil and gas workers who commute the road day and night as they are subjected to lots of mental torture.
He said the labour Union frowns thoughtfully at the deplorable state of the road, noting that the road brings a lot of economic contribution to the country and houses Port Harcourt refinery, manufacturing, oil and gas companies.
Onyefuru called on the government to be responsible for its duties by revamping the road as urgent, adding that it is a social responsibility owed to the people.
“Our members suffer every day they commute that road to work. Even the investors located in that area pay their annual revenue and taxes. Yet, the government that is supposed to provide the common basic infrastructures for these organisations are not doing so.
“This roadhouse’s Port Harcourt refinery, most private practitioners in the oil and gas industry and manufacturing industry have their companies situated in the area, not to talk about the economic contribution it brings to the nation, and nobody is interested in getting the road to work.
“Organised Labour is calling on the responsible government to do something needful and revamp the road. It should be treated as a critical emergency.
“The government owes its citizens a social responsibility to fix the road; it is the duty they owe us as a people. We are not supposed to be begging; it is only in Nigeria that politicians say they will work the road, and women will be dancing for them; every day, politicians come and make promises and walk away.
“It is a duty they owe us as citizens; nobody is supposed to clap for them; it is our money; we are not begging. If the government does not know what to do on that road, we have technocrats who can advise them on what to do; they know what to do and should do it fast”.
He said further that Rivers State has a responsible government that constructed flyovers in four years, stressing if the state can embark on such a gigantic project and finish it, why can’t the federal government do the same.
