No fewer than eight officers and members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) were arrested and detained by men of the Nigeria Police Force during the warning strike embarked upon by the union last week to press home their demand that Local Government allocation should not be deducted at source for the payment of Medical workers’ salaries.
The clamp down took place while they were attempting to enforce compliance with the 3-day warning strike at Primary Health Centres at Potts Johnson in the Old Port Harcourt Township and Ngo (formerly Okija) streets of Mile 1 Diobu area.
Sources told The Tide yesterday that those arrested were from the Port Harcourt City Local Government branch of the union.
When The Tide visited PHALGA Council to confirm the allegation the Chairman of the PHALGA branch of the union, Mrs Blessing Ngowari Amadi could not be reached but one of her officers who was on her entourage to the Health Centres narrated their ordeal on the condition of anonymity.
Said the Officer: “On the first day of the warning strike, we received information that two Health centres were not complying with the union’s directive to proceed on strike – Potts Johnson health Centre and Okija Health Centre, when other Health Centres were on strike so we dispatched our officers and members to the Health Centres to ensure compliance.
The Police incident at Potts Johnson took place on Monday while that of Okija was on Tuesday.
“When we arrived Potts Johnson, the staff were asked to close down the Health Centre in compliance with our union’s directive, the Matron refused and enlisted the support of the women that brought their babies for immunization to resist us and forment trouble.
“Not long afterwards, a medical doctor arrived with some Police men who whisked us away to the central Police Station, where we were placed behind counter and later detained – without first obtaining our statements.
The NULGE enforcement team, led by the PHALGA branch Chairman, Mrs Blessing Ngowari Amadi protested from the cell and we were later brought out to write our statements”, he said.
Therefore, he said, NULGE State Officers including the Publicity Secretary, Mr. John Enereuwo arrived and secured their release on bail, adding that the union had similar experience on Tuesday, when an aide to the State President Bar. Franklin Ajinwo, Mr. Kekor was allegedly arrested at the Primary Health, Centre, Okija Street and detained at Mile 1 Police Station before the PHALGA branch Chairman, Mrs. Amadi was mandated by the State Executive Committee to effect his release.
Kekor confirmed the incident in an interview with The Tide yesterday in his office.
When contacted, the Police Public relations Officer, Rivers State Command, DSP Ahmad Muhammed denied knowledge of the incident.