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By Kenneth Uwadi
African Examiner, Baltimore
Sunday, July 03, 2011
An open letter to Nigerian Labour Congress in Imo State
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Dear Labour Union Leaders in Imo State,

This letter is more of a cry for action rather than just an informational or ideological
statement or platform. It is meant to be serious and intense, and I hope you take
this letter in that form! As you all know, Imolites are disappointed that on the 6th
of June 2011 ,like the days of the  military junta, Governor Rochas  Okorocha  of
Imo State announced  the suspension of  10,000 jobs created by the immediate
past administration of Imo State. The Governor called it the so called Ohakim’s
10,000 jobs. By this action, 10,000 legally employed graduates working in the
state civil service have been sent into the world of uncertainties.

The disengaged workers were employed in line with the Imo State Civil Service
Commission rules and regulations. The Imo State Civil Service Commission is an
executive body in the state that has authority to make appointments and
transfers, and to exercise disciplinary control over all Imo State Civil Servants. No
officer can be appointed into the Imo State Civil Service without authorization from
the Civil Service Commission. To register their displeasure, the disengaged
workers in their thousands flooded the streets of Owerri demanding that the
governor should relapse on their sack from work. The governor told the protesting
youths that he has set up a committee to review the 10,000-job programme.

Setting up a review committee is an old fashioned political gimmick. Why didn’t
the Governor first set up the committee and finish all his reviews before throwing
his sucker punch at the workers like a military governor?  The jobs review
committee he set-up has proved to be a come today come tomorrow political
lyrics. The workers have so far stayed one month at home. Sources even say that
Okorocha  has started  using another political gimmick by  spreading propaganda
that he will soon embark on a  mass transfer of the 10,000 workers to various LGA’
s in  the state. Why treat Imolites this way? Majority of the disengaged workers
fought for the election of the governor believing that a messiah has come to save
Imo state. You can imagine how the governor is repaying them for their votes, by
throwing them into the unemployment market.

When Okorocha was seeking the votes of the people he said that he will run a
peoples-oriented government where every decision taken would be anchored on
how it would protect lives and property, improve the welfare of the people as well
as protect their interest. He also said that he is going to create jobs for the people
of the state. When he promised employment opportunities for graduates, how did
he plan to do this? Did he intend to send the people he promised to create jobs for
to the motor parks?

Dear Labour Union Leaders,as you are ,no doubt aware, this is  a serious  labour
battle in Imo State. You of the Nigerian Labour Congress in Imo State cannot just
fold your arms like a zombie and be watching workers lose their jobs in the state.
The Imo 10,000 workers are fighting for survival and you’ve got to stand up and
help them. The alternative is predictable; the 10,000 workers may be compelled by
this harsh conditions of the Okorocha’s government to take their destiny in their
own hands. The signals from local restiveness in the Northern part of Nigeria,
dictates that there will always come a time when the people can get angry over
government unpopular policy and ignites a reaction. At this stage, no amount of
promises, political sloganeering, and tokenism, would extinguish the ambers of
the people's wrath

For one month now, we have not seen any  movement  by  you of the Labour
Union in Imo State  to address the challenges faced by the disengaged workers in
the state. This is totally unfair and shows that Labour in Imo State has no sense
of concern about the plights of workers in the state.As Labour Union it should
pain   and worry you that workers are hurting. Unemployment remains one of the
greatest challenges facing our nation. Rather than tackling unemployement,
Governor Okorocha is sending people to the  unemployment market.

We call on you labour leaders in Imo State to get involved!  It's time for NLC  to
come together, to issue a joint and unified statement of support for our sisters and
brothers under fire.  It is time to travel en masse to the centre of this struggle
which is Imo State government house and show our support.  It is time to lend our
aid to the suspended 10,000 workers.  And last but not the least, we should all
stand ready to support whatever actions these workers are forced to undertake.
We know these workers are anxious to start work and start serving Imo State.
Governor  Okorocha  should give the people back their jobs. In advance countries
the attempt by our governor to disengage workers that were duly employed calls
for legal action and the compensation runs into millions.

Sincerely,
Kenneth Uwadi
Mmahu-Egbema
Imo State, Nigeria