The Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State has announced a seven-day warning strike across all 23 local government areas. This action responds to the non-payment of salaries to 300 staff members of Emohua Local Government Area (LGA).
Comrade Christopher Paul, the NULGE state chairman, addressed reporters in Port Harcourt, explaining that the strike aims to challenge the refusal of Emohua LGA chairman, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, to remunerate workers who were reinstated under Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.
Paul emphasized that these employees had consistently received their wages prior to the installation of the Lloyd-led administration in Emohua LGA.
He expressed confusion over why the current leadership would withhold payment from workers who had been officially reinstated and previously compensated.
The union leader further cautioned that if the salary dispute remains unresolved after the warning strike, the workforce is prepared to escalate the protest into an indefinite strike.
“Our decision to strike stems from the fact that the chairman of Emohua LGA has halted salary payments to over 300 workers. These individuals had been regularly paid since the governor reinstated them. Even the former administrator continued their salary payments through July. However, upon assuming office, the current chairman declared he would not pay them, which we cannot accept as they are our members,” Paul stated.
Conversely, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, chairman of Emohua LGA, refuted the allegations that Governor Fubara reinstated any workers within the local government councils.
Speaking to the press in Port Harcourt, Lloyd maintained that all legitimate Emohua LGA employees are up to date with their salaries and insisted that those protesting are not officially employed by the council.
