NLC Wants RSG To Take Over TIMARIV’s Wage Bill

The Chairman of Nigeria
Labour Congress, Rivers State Council, Comrade  Chris Oruge, has called on the State government to take over the wage bill (salaries) of TIMARIV staff, as enshrined in the State Road Traffic Law (2009).
He appealed to government to constitute a functional board to oversee the affairs of the TIMARIV authority.
Oruge said this shortly after a tripartite meeting held between labour, TIMARIV management and AUPCTRE union in his office yesterday in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the current hand book in use by the agency should be null and void hence, the workers are qualified to be public servants, saying that there should be a condition of service to qualify their present status.
He also urged the management of Tima-Riv to pay the outstanding one month salary arrears without delay.
The NLC Boss further stated that the union should enlist the names of affected staff whose salaries were deducted unlawfully, adding that no Tima-Riv staff should be victimised consequent upon the strike action.
Oruge called on the staff to discontinue its industrial action and resume normal duties immediately.
Earlier, the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMA-RIV) had since January 20, 2014 embarked on a show-down with its authority, demanding among other things the immediate resignation of the Acting Controller General of TIMA-RIV, Mr. Confidence Eke and the Head, Human Resources, Gift Egboh and also demanded for the appointment of an ex-military or para-military officer to handle the position of the Controller General.
The staff also agitated for the review of the unlawful dismissal of officers and those that were made to resign under duress as well as to carry out a comprehensive staff audit and the immediate investigation of the Confidence Eke’s led administration.
They however declared vote of no confidence on their Acting Controller General, Mr. Confidence Eke.
Meanwhile, The Tide Correspondent who visited some major roads in Port Harcourt reported that TIMA-RIV staff are back on duty, carrying out their traffic control function’s at junctions.
Others at the meeting include Mr. Confidence Obinna Eke, a Senior Industrial Relation Officer, Comrade James Kibah, Chairman, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical, and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) Rivers State Council, Comrade Peter Okwa, the Chairman, TIMA-RIV Branch, Comrade Igenewari Ketuphel, the Vice Chairman, NLC (Admin) Prince William Addah, and the Vice Chairman, Logistics of NLC, Comrade Evans Olunwa among others.