The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have urged the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, to immediately withdraw officers from the 23 local government council secretariats in Rivers State.
Following an emergency joint state administrative council meeting in Port Harcourt on Friday evening, the unions criticized the Inspector General’s directive to maintain a police presence at the LG secretariats until a court resolves the local government issue.
In a joint statement, State NLC Chairman Alex Agwanwor and TUC counterpart Ikechukwu Onyefuru highlighted that the prolonged police occupation has prevented workers from accessing the council offices, resulting in significant loss of man-hours.
The unions supported the four-day ultimatum issued by the state President of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Clifford Paul, demanding the police vacate the councils or face a protest mobilization by union members.
Organized labor is preparing to take necessary actions if the situation persists.
The statement reads, “The councils-in-session commend the proactive measures taken by the Nigeria Police Force to maintain law and order amid recent political upheavals.
However, we strongly oppose the sealing of the 23 Local Government Councils Secretariat by police officers, which has barred our members from performing their statutory duties.”
The unions emphasized the detrimental impact of the police action, noting, “The loss of man-hours since the occupation of the security agencies across the 23 Local Government Councils is irrecoverable.
The consequences of putting people out of work without alternative engagement are too severe to ignore.”
They added, “We call on the Inspector General of Police to immediately instruct the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State to allow legitimate local government workers access to their offices.
We also uphold the ultimatum issued by NULGE for the police to vacate and permit unfettered access for Local Government Workers without further delay.”
The unions also criticized the call for a state of emergency in Rivers State by the State Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Tony Okocha, labeling it as self-serving.
“We unanimously condemn the purported call for a State of Emergency in Rivers State by certain political leaders, which does not serve the best interests of Rivers State people.”
The statement concluded with a warning to Rivers State workers, placing them on high alert for potential actions to protect and defend their interests.
This situation follows the police takeover of the council headquarters amid a crisis over the tenure of local government chairmen in the state, which has already resulted in two fatalities.
A police officer and a local vigilante member were shot dead during a protest in Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, prompting the police to barricade the councils to prevent further violence.
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