Allocation Crisis: Rivers NLC threatens state-wide strike

The Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that it will go on strike if the federal government enforces the court ruling that halts the state’s monthly federal allocation.

According to reports, Justice Joyce Abdulmaliki issued a ruling preventing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from disbursing the state’s monthly allocation to the government led by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Rivers State NLC Chairman, Alex Agwanwo, expressed this stance to journalists following an emergency meeting with labor leaders on Thursday. Agwanwo stated that organized labor strongly opposes the ruling, adding that if the federal government proceeds with enforcing it, state workers will be left unpaid.

He added that workers cannot be working without salaries. He explained that workers would be left with no choice but to shut down.

NLC

According to him, the judgment lacks empathy. He stated that Justice Abdumaliki failed to put the citizens and workers of the state into consideration before giving her judgment.

Rivers NLC chapter called on President Bola Tinubu to avoid implementing the court’s ruling. He also appealed to the Court of Appeal to reverse the ruling.

NLC argued that taking allocation away from a state would put the state into suffering and disrupt governance.

“As a state council, we have looked at the issues. We condemn that judgement. The judgement lacks a human face. The judgement lacks empathy. The judge did not take the citizens and workers of Rivers State into consideration before giving the judgement.

“Everybody knows that taking allocation away from a state will put the state into suffering. It will disrupt governance in a state because governance will not take place without funds,” Arise TV quoted him.