In the past few weeks, Rivers workers and their government have been up in arms. At the centre of the disagreement is the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage.
While workers are insisting that the State Government should pay arrears of no less than 10 months, the government is saying it would not pay.
But that’s not the only grouse that labour has against the State Government. Labour is insisting Government should produce the chart it used in computing the figures for the payment it made last month.
These arguments which remain largely unresolved are gradually culminating in a face-off which may pave way for a strike.
Last week, matters almost spurn out of control when Government dared labour to on strike.
It did not stop there.
It directed its officials led by law enforcement to take control of the NLC office complex that it built and donated to workers of Rivers State on a piece of land assigned to them through due process.
Somehow, the Rivers State Government has offered an explanation for its action. It said that the move was linked to a government policy that is intended to confirm the integrity of the said structure.
Fair as the argument may be, the question is why was labour not informed of the decision before Government swung into action?
Could it be that Government contractors who executed the project presumably on the basis of certain building specifications did not do a good job?
Only the Government can answer these questions, some of which labour has asked in its bid to unravel what may have led to that decision that it considers punitive.
While the face-off between labour and government plays out, we acknowledge the decision by the State Government to pay the new minimum wage to its workers.
Its action in this regard is commendable. It is evidence of the fact that government is desirous to ensure that its workers enjoy a better life.
As part of the wealth creation process, workers welfare is something that governments all over the world do not toy with.
Given the fact that the Nigerian Government has after a series of negotiations between governments and labour approved the new minimum wage, there is no reason why any legitimate government, including the Rivers State Government should not proceed to pay.
For this reason, we appreciate the gesture of the Wike led administration in paying Rivers workers.
Having said this, we believe that there are basic universal principles which ought to be adhered to in order to ensure good government-labour relations in the State.
In an era of best practices that encourages transparency and accountability, Government ought to have come up with a chart showing how it came by the payment of the new wages.
There is no evidence that the government has taken pains to show how it came by its conclusions.
It is on record that the Federal Government not only paid the new wages, it set aside another day for the payment of arrears arising from the agreement reached.
The reason may not be far-fetched. Workers deserve to know how much they are entitled to under the new wage regime, and how much of the money they have received amounts to their arrears.
This, in our view, was a worthy step to take on the part of the Federal Government, a step that we believe is in line with the open reporting system that is in operation in this country.
The disagreement between the Rivers State Government and organized labour groups is something that can be resolved through negotiations based on mutual respect and a determination to play by the rules.
It is not something which ought to be achieved in an atmosphere of hostility, distrust and bitter acrimony.
Accordingly, we urge both government and labour to end the arm-twisting antic and return immediately to the roundtable at once.
We think that negotiations hold the key to the solution of this problem which, except utmost care is taken, could snowball into a raging storm.
Labour has nothing to lose in calling out its membership for a strike. Around the country, they may even garner sympathizers.
On its part, Government has everything to lose. Its services would be completely grounded should labour decide to withdraw its services.
For the avoidance of doubt, no government can win a fight against labour. It is certainly a dangerous path to tow, especially in this circumstance.
Our position anchored on fact is by no means a call to confrontation. It is our considered view that peace is a product of wisdom.
Besides, Rivers people who are watching developments from the sidelines want the best for their workers and their Government. This being the case, both sides must learn to give and take for the benefit of society.
The money that is at stake belongs to the Rivers people. It does not belong either to labour or the State Government.
In calling for negotiations, we are acutely aware that the only path which will halt needless confrontation lies in an amicable settlement of the differences between Government and labour.
Should labour and government find it impossible to reach conclusions that are acceptable, then there ought to be the need to set up an independent team of eminent Rivers people who should wade into the matter.
Our thinking is that such a body could be trusted where everything fails to come up with a respectable position that is acceptable to all the parties concerned.
We are therefore constrained to call for caution on all sides even as we urge the parties in conflict to embrace negotiations, no matter the cost.
In the meantime, we appeal to the Rivers State Government to reopen the office of the NLC.
The timing of that action at a time of growing disharmony between Government and organized labour has not sent an appropriate signal of government’s good intent. We pray that wisdom will prevail.