The General Secretary of NLC, Chief Ita Ayi, said that despite the arrest of their chairman, the strike must be sustained.
The Department of State Services (DSS) in Cross River State has invited the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Ben Ukpebi, for questioning.
The General Secretary of NLC, Chief Ita Ayi, said that despite the arrest of their chairman, the strike must be sustained.
The Special Adviser to Governor Benedict Ayade on labour matters, Effiong Ita Umoh, however condemned the industrial action embarked upon by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress.
On Tuesday, civil servants in Cross River State commenced total industrial action and blocked all government offices in Calabar and other major towns following directives of the unions.
Speaking at a private radio station, Umoh said the leadership of NLC had no right to block government offices and would be held responsible for any damage government properties suffer as a result of their actions.
According to him, government offices were not only occupied by labour union members but political appointees and other officials should have the right to access their offices.
“Whereas NLC and TUC have the right to embark on strike as stipulated by industrial laws, yet they don’t have the right to seal up government offices where there are political appointees and other officials.
“What they have done is debarring non-members of labour unions access to their work. They will pay for any damages if anything happens.
“They never gave us time to meet with them even when they notified us late. They insisted on meeting Governor Ben Ayade in person to press their demands even when the governor has designated aides in charge of all issues.
“We have met all their demands except gratuities. We are not even owing salaries. We have implemented promotions”, he stated.