The Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Ipalibo Banigo, got the rough side of workers in Rivers State on Monday, when she represented the governor, Nyesom Wike, at the May Day rally.
The workers intermittently booed the deputy while she read the governor’s address. At a point she threatened to abandon the speech if workers would not stop interrupting her address.
The booing started when in her address, Banigo claimed that the state government was paying the new minimum wage. She was forced to stop the address and explain that that information was what was given to her. Then she was cheered when she said the state government had regularly paid workers’ salaries.
The booing returned when she read that the state government had paid arreras of pensions and that government was committed to the welfare of workers.
The deputy governor expressed shock that the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Beatrice Itubo, was the first to attack the governor when he declared that he was running for President.
She said the NLC chairman had previously declared Wike the most civil servants friendly governor when he handed over the secretariat building to the the NLC.
Signs that workers could be up to some confrontation emerged when they arrived the Boro venue in an all black attires in place of the different uniforms the affiliate unions wore on such days. Labour leaders explained that it was done to sound a mournful reminder to government about its failed promises to workers.
Earlier on, the state chairman of NLC, Beatrice Itubo, lamented that the state government had failed to offer employment, promote civil servants and pay pensioners their gratuities since it came into office over seven years ago.
She urged the government to continue to engage the workers to make life meaningful for workers and the general populace.
Highlight of the event was a march-past by the several affiliate unions of the NLC and Trade Union Congress.
Lateef Olayinka
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