Labour Unions Threaten Strike if Rivers State Emergency Rule is not Reversed.

Labour unions in Nigeria have demanded for the immediate reversal of the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State or risk their calling out workers on strike.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) warned that anything less would lead to mass action and industrial unrest.

In a communiqué issued and signed NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo declared the emergency rule unconstitutional and anti-democratic.

They insisted that suspension of elected representatives was diluting the people’s mandate and destabilizing the country.

The Labour leaders warned of possible economic consequence of the decision, stating that it would immobilize business operations which would result in job losses, and deter investment in the oil-producing state.

The leaders further stated that the majority of the local government employees had not been paid their wages as a result of the political impasse.

“Rivers State is an important economic hub, and any display of instability affects not just the region but the country at large. We cannot sit back while democracy is flashed in the face,” the statement said.

The unions urged President Bola Tinubu to unconditionally rescind the state of emergency and reinstate democratic rule in Rivers State, warning that failure to do so would meet their mobilizing workers across the country for protests and potential strikes.

Political commentators and civil society organizations have also joined in to condemn the action, calling on the federal government to change its position. The tension remains high, with the majority of Nigerians waiting to see how the government will react to the labour demands.