By Chile Agubuche

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has constantly been an instrument to unleash mayhem to the lives and properties of Imo State workers, and some of the anti-labour laws and activities as orchestrated by the violent Governor. With these derogatory development in Imo State, the Joint Central Working Committee (CWC) Meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria held on Monday, the 1st Day of May, 2023 resolved the comprehensive and indefinite shutdown of Imo State, starting from Wednesday, the 3rd of May.

The Sins of Imo State Government is conspicuously written below:

1) Refusal to implement previous agreements reached between the Government and trade unions especially that of 9th of January 2021 reached between the Government and Organised Labour

2) 20 months Salary arrears owed to some workers stigmatised as ghost workers

3) Declaration of about 11,000 workers in the state as ghost workers even while they were physically at work and diversion of their salaries.

4)The Vandalisation of the NLC State Secretariat

5) Implementation of Discriminatory pay and introduction of apartheid in determining monthly payments.

6) Refusal to clear 8yrs Arrears of Gratuities owed retirees.

7) Refusal to appropriately implement the N30,000 National Minimum Wage

Intimidation and Harassment of Trade Union leaders; a witch hunt carried out in different guises

9) Continued use of thugs and instrument of violence against workers in the state and their leaders.

10) Impoundment and illegal diversion of Union dues belonging to the Unions

11) Declaration of about 10,000 pensioners as ghost Pensioners and refusing to paythem for over 22 Months leading to the death of many.

12) Harassment and intimidation of the entire workforce with constant threats of violence and sack

13) Continuous resistance to the use of the instrument of Social Dialogue and bargaining

14) Violent interference and disruption of Imo State Delegates’ Conference in its effort to impose its favoured candidates on the workers.