RIVERS: Organised labour is dead, now chasing shadows, says Wike

GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike has said the organised labour has literally lost its voice as it no longer mounts agitation against oppressive policies of the government as it used to do before now.

Wike, who accused the organised labour of acquiescing to the excesses of the Buhari administration, urged labour leaders to rise and salvage the country from bad leadership.

The Rivers State Governor spoke at the launch of the newly built secretariat for the Trade Union Congress in Ozuoba, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state yesterday.

He said, “Under former President Goodluck Jonathan, labour was alive. They said the country must come down because he is from a minority area. But look at what is happening. There is an increase in fuel pump price, insecurity, and increase in electricity tariff.

“Where is labour? Where is TUC (Trade Union Congress)?  Where is NLC (Nigeria Labour Congress)? The only thing I hear is minimum wage. Let the world hear it, labour has died,” the governor added, saying labour had forgotten its role and was currently chasing shadows.

“You people say federal government should fix. How can federal government fix salary for me; he did not employ you, I employed you. I sit down with you, we negotiate. Then you say federal government should fix what everyone should earn.

“I agree that nobody should earn less than a certain benchmark for example. You cannot also say as you have put that, therefore, people in Lagos are paying N30, 000, therefore, Kogi must pay same thing you are not being fair.

“Where will Kogi get the money from? Oil companies that should pay taxes to Rivers State have moved to Lagos; they only take helicopter and come take our oil finish and go back, leaving us to suffer environmental pollution”.

Inaugurating the secretariat, TUC President, Quadri Olaleye, lauded Wike for completing the project and not abandoning it after starting the project.

Olaleye argued that Wike’s achievements had made him controversial, saying that was why he was one of those who also castigated the governor for his contributions to the judiciary, but that he “understands it better now.”