THREE days after the Imo State Government suspended and stopped salaries of workers in 19 state-owned parastatals, agencies and departments through radio announcements, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr.Austin Chilapku, has directed them to ignore the order and report at their duty posts.Chilakpu, who spoke to journalists after an emergency executive meeting, said that workers could not be sacked on radio, stressing that the channel of disengaging workers at any level was clear.The state government had, in several radio announcements signed by the Secretary to the Government of Imo State, Jude Ejiogu, suspended the workers beginning from January 14, 2016, adding that they would be informed of any further re-engagement plans.They were also directed to submit any government property in their possession within 48 hours, while the civil servants on secondment in the affected areas will be redeployed to their parent ministries. The statement said the parastatals were not yielding revenue, but had incurred huge expenditure for government. Governor Rochas Okorocha stressed that concessioning the affected agencies could open opportunities fore-engaging the affected workers.But Chilapku said: “We have asked our members in the mentioned parastatals to go for their normal duties; if they are molested, then labour will know what nextto do.” He insisted that the laid down procedures of downsizing must be carried out.The parastatals, agencies and departments affected are Hospital Management Board, Headquarters, Imo Water Corporation, Imo Cattle Markets, Imo Sports Council, Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO), Imo Marketing Company, Imo Consumer Protection Agency, Imo Tourism Board, Imo Blue Lake of Treasure and Imo State Agency.Others are the Imo Job Centre, Imo WaterBoard Development Agency (IWADA), Imo Library Board, Imo Agric Loans Board, Imo Lives-stock, Imo Poverty Alleviation, Imo Agricultural Programme, Imo Pensions Board and Imo Transport Corporation.Some health cetres were also affected bythe action.Ironically, Governor Okorocha, had beforetraveling out of the country, assured the national leadership of the NLC, led by their President, Ayuba Wabba, in a meeting in Owerri, that he would not ‘sack, retire prematurely or cut salaries indiscriminately.” He also denied planningto implement alleged anti-labour policies.
