Brave Dickson
Professional artisans under the auspices of the Rivers State Professional Artisans Council (RSPAC) have raised alarm over the selling of employment chances to non indigenes.
The artisans who particularly accused company managements of refusing to employ Rivers indigenes, also called for tougher actions on companies found wanting.
At a courtesy visit to the management of the state ministry of works, the artisans suggested that an employment committee that would enhance round table talk between the artisans, companies handling state projects and the ministry be constituted to stop job selling to non indigenes.
Presenting a four-paged resolution paper to the ministry through the National President of the group, Comrade, Hero Jack, the artisans said: “Employment slots which are supposed to be given to Rivers indigenes are rather sold out to non indigenes by company managers.
“These company managers are selling out our jobs with the false excuse that Rivers indigenes are lazy, cultists and that we are not professionally skillful and qualified for jobs.
“On this premise, we have come to seek your intervention and suggest that you set up an employment committee to work with us in order to stop and recover our stolen jobs back to us.
“It can be achieved if this ministry calls for a tripartite meeting to include you, we and companies handling projects under the ministry of works so as to create better understanding that will correct these abnormalities.
“For clarity, Rivers State Professional Artisans Council is duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and was inaugurated by the state employment ministry to achieve the one million job creation agenda of His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike for Rivers indigenes.
“We are a conglomerate of different professionally skilled unions cut across the 23 local government areas of the state with 265,000 members.”
The group also appealed to the ministry to prevail on companies handling its projects to always give maximum employment slots to Rivers artisans.
