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Court Stops Rivers Organised Labour Strike, Today …Labour Is Unpatriotic, Wike Insists
The National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt, presided over by Honourable Justice Z. M. Bashir has granted an Order of Interim Injunction, calling off the proposed labour strike in Rivers State scheduled to commence, today.
The injunction ordered the leadership of the organised labour in the state under the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Beatrice Itubo; Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Austin Jonah; Secretary, NLC, Mathew Olaba; Prince Ndukwe, and Opuwari A. Agbada (Joint Rivers Negotiating Council), or their proxy from embarking on the strike.
Parts of the Injunction read: “The National Industrial Court, Port Harcourt (presided over by Honourable Justice Z. M. Bashir, J.) has granted an Order of Interim Injunction in Suit No. NICN/PHC/41/2020 (Attorney-General, Rivers State Vs. Comrade Beatrice Itubo, Comrade Austin Jonah, Comrade Mathew Olaba, Comrade Prince Ndukwe & Opuwari A. Ogbada) restraining the defendants either by themselves or through their servants, agents, privies, officers or otherwise howsoever called from embarking on a strike on Monday, 23rd March, 2020, or any other day thereafter, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive Motion on Notice filed in this suit.
“The Trial Court also granted an Order of Interim Injunction restraining the defendants from interfering with the provision of services and other works by their members in the Civil Service of Rivers State pending the hearing and determination of the substantive Motion on Notice filed in this suit.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has said the strike being contemplated by labour in Rivers State at this time was unpatriotic, due to the Coronavirus codenamed COVID-19 that is currently impacting negatively on the Nigerian economy and the world as a whole.
Wike stated this during the public presentation of “A Handbook on Discipline of Civil Servants in Nigeria’ written by the state Head of Service (HOS), Barrister Rufus Godwins in Port Harcourt, yesterday; just as he describe the book as apt.
The book was reviewed by the state Commissioner for Education, Prof Kaniyu Ebeku.
The governor, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Tamunosis Gogo-Jaja further said many states were expressing fears as to whether they can continue to pay salaries, but that the Rivers State Government was not only up to date with salaries, she is also paying the minimum wage.
According to him, “The public presentation of this book is apt. It is coming in a period when the economy of not only Nigeria is being ravaged by the Coronavirus. Now, a lot of states are already expressing the fear of being able to pay salaries.
“We (RSG) believe that this is not a proper period for any patriotic citizen whether of Nigeria or Rivers State to contemplate on strike. The economy is going down. And come to think of it, Rivers State is not owing any civil servant. Rivers State Government has paid the minimum wage. In fact Rivers State Government has paid more than the recommendations of the Federal Government.
“Now, we want to urge that every one of us need to come together to protect the state and protect the economy of Nigeria. I believe that as Head of Service (HOS) you must take steps to address indiscipline in the civil service. Notwithstanding we have a very wonderful civil servants in Rivers State.
“Let me say to us that we have a governor that is interested in the welfare of civil servants, and therefore, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be used by politicians to destroy the service.
“If you have your political view, don’t impose it on the ordinary civil servants. And we won’t advise that you also allow yourselves to be used to champion a different political view,” he stated, noting that anyone used to cause confusion in the state was neither doing himself nor the state any good.
While describing the author as a chattered lawyer, he advised him to borrow from the experiences shared by senior citizens who have retired from the civil service to improve the service and urged prominent citizens to endeavour to put down their experiences in book form.
“You have made an impact and that impact is what you have given to Rivers people and Nigeria at large and urged all to get copies of the book. Lastly, whether you are in the private or public sector, let us all come together and support the Government of Rivers State,” Wike added.
In his reading of the book, the author and Rivers State Head of Service, Barrister Rufus Godwins said working with Wike and the experiences he has garnered inspired him to write the book
“The impetus for this work derived from the inspiration His Excellency gave me. His Excellency’s vision is captured in virtually every sector of governance and administration. And for the civil service his vision is to enthrone a civil service that can utilize best global practices to deliver efficient and effective service.
“With this I set out to look at the service. In the first one year I was dissolution thinking I was in the wrong place because I came from a background of discipline and professional ethics. I couldn’t understand a service where by 9am people are not on their seats till 10am. So, I started by going from office to office to seize registers of those who come late.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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