NULGE Writes Amaechi On Strike

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Rivers State branch has formally notified the state governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi of its decision to embark on a 3-day warning strike, with effect from Monday, next week.
In a letter to Governor Amaechi, titled; “Deduction of Local Government Allocation for the payment of Primary Health Care Workers: Our fears and displeasure”, with ref. No. RV/NULGE/ADM/44/VOL.111/82, and dated October 13, NULGE said ordinarily, the directive by the governor for the deduction with effect from this month end shouldn’t have drawn the ire of the union but past experience has shown that it will only enrich a ‘cabal’ who uses trade union platform to destroy the local government system.
NULGE said in the letter, signed by its Ag. State Secretary, Comrade Patrick Ekpe for the State President, Sir Barr. Franklin Ajinwo that the directive will deal “a deadly blow on the future of the Local Government and the workers in the state”, regretting that the governor was “pressured into (taking) a decision that will not serve the State nor any well-meaning individual any good except for the few who are focused on what they are going to gain by swindling the councils”.
The union applauded the governor for not tampering with Council funds since assumption of office in 2007 but regretted that “this your decision and directive will rubbish this record in less than no time as those who pioneered it are set for the spoil and the damage would have been done before you realise it”.
NULGE likened the decision of deducting the medical workers salaries with effect from this month, without recourse to the umbrella union of the local government employees to “shaving a man’s hair in his absence” and advised the governor to rescind his decision in the interest of the local government system.
The 3-page, 13 paragraph letter affirmed that “On Wednesday, 8th October, 2014, Your Excellency had a meeting with the Chairmen of Care-Taker Committees and some Trade Union leaders in the state where you directed that salaries of Primary Health Care Workers be deducted at source for the Primary Health Care Authority to pay Primary Health Care Workers in the state.
“…We are aware that since 2010 when the law establishing the Primary health care Board was promulgated, pressure has been mounting on Your Excellency to execute this action which is a deadly blow…
“It might interest Your Excellency, to remember that the establishment of the Primary Schools Board and the decision of government to deduct at source Primary School Teachers Salaries from Local Government allocations created the zero allocation era when Local Governments were deprived of funds, as all funds accruing to the Local Governments were barely enough for the payment of Primary School teachers salaries. Local government workers were without salaries, some for upwards of 24 months …
“Needless to inform you that some of these Labour Leaders who sat in the meeting with you and have been mounting pressure against your judgment on this matter were major players in the scam.
They fed fat on Local government allocations and want to deploy the same tactics now.
“— Before the creation of the Primary Health Care Board, and uptil now, the Local Government Service Commission has been in-charge of Personnel matters in all Local Government Councils. They (the Board) had no hand in the payment of workers’ salaries and yet all workers were being paid — since the establishment of the ill-conceived Board in 2010, pressure had been on the increase by a cabal for salaries of Primary health Care Workers to be deducted at source in order to service the parasites who saw this as a veritable avenue to feast on Local Government funds.
“— Primary Health Care Workers have shown resentment to the existence of the Board and called for its abrogation on several occasions but the same cabal using the trade union platforms in the state have constantly stifled their protests”, the letter warned.

Justus Unye-Awaji