Despite rounds of conversation over what to do about the payment of the new minimum wage approved in the country, representatives of the Rivers State Government and its workers are yet to arrive at an amicable agreement although negotiations are still ongoing.
While the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike insists he would not pay arrears accruing as a result of months of the non implementation of the new package on the part of Government, labour leaders say that the consequence for not meeting their demand would be the commencement of days of street processions by workers which may end in a crippling strike.
Organized labour which appears ready for a show down for the first time since the Wike administration came on board is deftly mobilizing workers in defiance of the government position not to pay arrears.
It is not yet clear who would blink first, but the State government has replaced its Head of Service with the Secretary to Government as negotiations continue.
While some say this may be as a result of growing feelings that the Head of Service has not done enough to move negotiations in the direction that it wants, others indicate it might be evidence of government’s desire to speed up the process.
Workers, according to what we have heard are insisting that if Wike does not want to pay arrears, he should promote workers and pay incremental steps as the law provides.
They say since Wike came on board, workers have not gained promotion, gone on courses as others in other states are doing while the Secretariat where they work is completely dilapidated, without water and electricity.
A 20-litre jerrycan of water sold by an Aboki at the State Secretariat Complex goes for N100.
So bad is the sanitary condition that one worker told this newspaper, “I wonder how we manage to stay alive while at work. Wike wants us dead.”
Governor Wike has continued to insist that workers are the engine room of government, but Rivers workers say under his watch, the engine has knocked completely.
Which route will the Wike administration travel? Will it pay arrears or promote its staff whose growth up the ladder of the service has remained stagnated in the last five years?
Affiliate unions under the NLC and TUC in different meetings held last week re-affirmed their intention to embark on crippling demonstrations across the State.
Nobody knows when labour would strike. Its leaders are keeping that close to their chest.
The understanding is that labour leaders would give the signal when the time comes.
A source hinted this publication that in an attempt to break the dead arising from ongoing negotiations, the leadership of the NLC at the centre might have invited Governor Wike for a chat as labour in Rivers State flexes muscles.
Wike had incurred the wrath of the workers when he chose to malign labour leaders whom he invited for a meeting last year.
Our sources labour leaders were not allowed to open their mouths. Only the governor spoke and after that he allegedly stormed out.
Associates of the Governor say he is worried by the extra funds that Government might cough out if he agrees to pay the arrears.
They say the arrears runs into millions and Wike cannot understand how he would use much needed funds required to execute his vision of a State that is development driven to pay workers
“Funds available to Government are scarce, so government has to prioritize. We have embarked on several projects like flyovers. These projects need money.
“Workers should show understanding. This State is not about their interests alone. That is why Wike is saying he will not pay arrears”, an official explained.