Welcome back Mr deuma joins us next he is a commissioner for information for IMO States good morning and thank you for joining us on the program today well we just heard the president of the Trade union Congress talking about uh some of the issues they had with that led to all
Of this protest strike which has been suspended now if you could just start off from that point where he says that there was anou that was signed a tripartite meeting having held between IMO state government the nolc and the TC that mou was signed in May this year he
Says was he correct when he said that well yeah to some extent is correct but I want to give you a little background if you don’t mind before thatou on 29th of January 2021 NLC leadership uh National leadership met with the government and his Excellency the governor ofo state
Senator was there and after that meeting there was a communicate that was issued by both parties and du was there NLC was there Tu Secretary General was there NLC Secretary General was also who is still the Secretary General and that communic started by saying that they commended the government for paying
Salaries regularly and as and when even in difficult times it also went further to say that the government should set up a tri committee to look into complaints about those who are uh have not been paid and uh that once they are verified they should Al be also be paid the same
Communicate also talked about commencement of immediate uh payment of check off dues and so many other things now after that agreement the the committee was set up headed by SSG as agreed by both parties and this committee have been made labor was written forly by SSG uh to to bring
Their members and on the uh 18th of May 2021 they submitted a list of their members to for the negotiation for the discussions and that included NLC included Tu included all the industrial union leaders in IMO State and that committee kept on meeting regularly and in the process take off
Was uh paid to all the unions minimum wage was paid uh and that was 30,000 the government commen payment of minimum wage and salaries all those who had problems of uh verification issues were verified and they were all paid and so we were moving on smoothly there was no
Problem because the labor and government was meeting regularly based on that agreement of January and that was the situation until and if you notice is from that January till uh January uh 2023 uh this year there was practically no problem now what changed was that in April
2023 emerged as the NSC president and immediately he marged the the situation started changing and before then I want to tell you when he marged as the president of n NLC the governor was so excited because he said this is the first person from South is who is
Imaging as the NLC president and he immediately congratulated him and directed me to lers with his people for him to hold a reception for him in to express his joy and I ask with the acting NC president Mr Philip W and the treasurer of NLC then got of who is currently who they
Have made the the C committee chairman and I I sent my message to them to tell uh Comm what government plans and they delivered the message and he was in IMO after his people received him and they attending the burial of his uncle also we expected that having received this
Message he was going to come to pay a c call on the governor and we waiting for him so Governor will now have opportunity to interface with him and then we agree on a date for the reception but he left he didn’t even bother to visit the governor not a
Message not an acknowledgement and you know it became a bit worrisome we said why should he behave like that but be that as it me as we moved on then in in in March uh this year there was supposed to be a delegates conference where they
Were to elect their leaders and in the process the the labor leaders here the local label leaders here complained that he wanted to change the rules along the line by the way the government is not interested in whoever becomes the governor said anybody who imag s
Chairman that is an IMO worker he will work with with the person because his interest after all is for the welfare of IM people but it was the label leaders who complained that there was a problem because wanted to impose somebody on them he he was insisting on
Imposing a particular person on them and they said no so he tried to change the rules so at the end of the day on that date the election could not hold because of the disagreements they had and what was the response of com that very day he
Imposed the C committee on the workers and then declared industrial action against the government and you know it was surprising because there was no dispute there was no issue between government and labor before then okay so um part of what you you said um yes you did agree that they were partly
Right that there was anou that was signed because T told us here the reason why he he was was responding to when I asked him that the governor had said labor had never written anyone of the had never written the government it made people believe that there was no
Communication between labor and the government so when you then also agree that yes there was thatou that kind of questions what the governor meant when he says there was no communication between labor and the government no I I I doubt that the governor would have said that because
The governor Miss with labor regularly at least the labor leaders here will confirm that he miss with them at least once every mon so there is there there was never any communication there but the point I was I was coming to thatou the point I’m trying to make is that
When the situation changed because of a ro he tried to declare industrial action in two or three times and you know it was surprising so that was why in May you know this question of occupy he had been insisted insisting on it so he may he wanted to do the same
Thing no that was in during the I mean in March or so during the presidential election he wanted to do the same thing so we managed the at the end of the day we said okay what was the problem we met with them yes and they were raising
Issue of non payment of salaries and we said no government is not owing anybody and there is evidence that government has been paying based on the fact if you go to uh our website payroll .o. govern. Nigeria you will see the facts which I think I forwarded to you
Also government does is not owing anybody including pensioners all verified workers in say 98% of them have been paid except a few and that few is even H uh those who don’t have maybe don’t have current urrent accounts and so on but 98% and these industrial Union uh leaders here have always acknowledge
That so that that he was referring to absolutely nothing new in it it was saying the same thing government should be meeting with labor and government has been meeting with labor and so there was nothing new and it will interest you to know that after the election you know
All the industri the governor after the election two days ago the whole workers of was to government house to celebrate with the governor to congratulate him so it was in the process that also had that the TU chairman was still talking about non payment of salaries and so on and so
On in Chanel and yesterday they met just a minute sir they met yesterday and reached a resolution which I also forwarded to you if you you watch you will see it all the 15 industrial unions in the state passed this resolution where they stated tically that the government is not owing anybody any
Worker any verified worker in IMO State they also went ahead to say that the government has been paying them agreed minimum wage of 30,000 naira to workers and recently increased it to 40,000 naira to C on the effects of uh subsid REM theyed that there has been a harmonious relationship between
Government and labor and that this Governor promoted workers who had not been promoted for over 10 years who have been stagnated for over 10 years promoted them across the board they also went and start saying that the government also ined an insurance for workers that that document that was
Signed did it include the TU the TU is there look at it is there and I want to let you know that check it I have it full all of them are there now one thing that should interest you is that when after the TU was in that
Agreement of January but you won’t believe it that as soon as came the TU chairman here when when when started with issues along the line the chairman was so impressed with what the governor was doing so he wrote him a letter so thank him for what he’s doing for labor
And that he was forwarding his name for an award by the Pu the response at the national level was suspend him well clearly there are several there are several issues which we may not have all the time to fit it in but um the president of NLC also in
Fact Tu labor entirely accusing the government of and his agents of being behind or being responsible for the attack on Joo my brother I will tell you emphatically the Govern has no hand in that attack the governor has said it and that is the correct and that’s the truth and the governor has
Also regretted the attack he feels bad that he was treated that way but I think it’s also important to note that the NSA I said they have arrested some of those who attacked or those who attacked and I don’t think any government official was among those arrested the
Government why would the government want to attack a son of imate who is occupying such a position who the governor was ready to host ready to receive and and do everything to show him uh Brotherhood and and fraternity so and if you watch I don’t know what is
Really the agenda because that same allegation when they are when the when the delates conference failed in March a said it was the government that Abed everything pointing hands at the government and it it’s so when you look at it against the background that we also know he has been meeting with the
Uh Labor uh Party governorship candidate who lost the election last Saturday they have been meeting with him regularly even before this soal St so you begin to see political colorations in need you ask yourself why should an LA president take off by fighting his government his State that’s the first time is happening
It’s supposed to be an asset it’s supposed to be an advantage to us that we have our son who is NC president but what we have had is continuous Coss disposition against the government and that I suspect is because he doesn’t like the party of the government which
Is APC because he also demonstrated it the sad thing is that he using he’s using respected label leaders to pursue this Personal Agenda and I don’t think that they I don’t blame them so much because they might not know some of them might innocently be following him but if
You ask yourself if the first two years three years of this government there was no industrial disharmony in the state why did this industrial start suddenly after a as the as the NS chairman and why is it that in spite of repeated pleas by the leaders of the industrial
Unions in the state that they have no problem with the government he insisting that they have why does he want to cry more than the bed or why does he want to be more Catholic than the Pope the people here are telling him we have a good relationship with this government
And even the Nigerian Union of pensioners gave the governor award as a most friendly Pion Pion Governor since the creation of him why is he not listening to all those things why must he continue to insist that there’s a problem when those on ground repeatedly
And some of them when they do he wants to suspect them he suspend them naturally threatens them so why is it why what what what does he have to hide it’s unfortunate that this is the situation but that’s the reality this government has no problem with labor the
The person who started creating problem is I don’t know why and the government is ready to work with him because he’s an IMO son there is nothing if he said some say that perhaps you know as a son of IMO State he he wants his states to
Be the model state of what he expects from other states as labor leader I do not know whether you’ll agree with them I mean that’s certainly up to you but if you say oh or the IMO state government continues to maintain that it is not owing any workers but then there is a
Bot you say oh just a few you know then there is a question mark it means that not everybody has been paid cuz all we hear over and over and over again is that we’re not owing anybody and one would now wonder why should there be a dispute if you still acknowledge that
Except those who have one issue or except those it means that not every single worker has been paid isn’t that correct well I tell you I fed all the data to you when he check that number it’s not up to 300 or or thereabout now the point is that you know we passed
Through an automation process and that that automation process was supposed to sanitize the system there were a lot of people who were receiving double salaries receiving at the local government and at the state level there were a lot of people who were uh not actually working commissioner IM sorry
To interrupt you do you mind telling us you know just how many workers have been affected cuz you say not up to 300 uh yes okay so not up to 300 but over how many months is the key question here no no no know this what I’m telling you now
Is the updated data as of October so I’m telling you as of October all from all the verification all along they all verified workers and they maintain that they have been around 98% but there are a few that have issues which even the governor has now directed
That whatever is the case please find a way to to uh just ignore it but that is because he wants is a worker friendly Governor he doesn’t want anybody to uh feel that maybe these people who have issues maybe they really have Bing doubt but what I’m trying to say the Maj point
I’m trying to make is that when a says government is has declared 10,000 boost workers please ask him toce concerned and I’m I’m a little you know bothered that as as to whether or not you think that because the governor makes the point over and over again that the NLC president is
From IMO state are you bothered that this assault on the NLC president who is the a son of IMO State happened within emo State I’ve already said that that the government regrets that assault and the government will support the persecution of all those involved in that assault
That is not in the character of this government to to to condone such assault so but having said that we must also not lose sight of the fact that a himself as chairman of NLC who is from IMO is not conducting himself well because he’s he’s crying wolf where there is no wolf
And like I said Mr when you say that the government will prosecute sorry to interrupt you once more but when you say that the government will support the prosecution of all of those involved uh will it also include the prosecution of one of the governor’s AIDS who has been
Mentioned by uh labor unions Mr chinasa would they also include that would they support that as well chin was not involved in that attack I can tell you categorically he was not even around him that day I can tell you oric he was not involved this are the pigment of
Imagination of of those who are labeling him like I said no government official was involved and this is verifiable now the the NSA has arrested some of them and the police is investiga so no government official was involved I can tell you that is is a statement of fact
And you can find out for yourself so you know when you have a fixation about a government like I said this is not the first time is aling he said government disrupted uh the delegates conference government disrupted Mayday government everything is government government so he has a fation is J about the
Government and that is where all this is coming from and you make allegations I understand that my colleague a has a question for you okay you thank you m I just wanted to quickly ask uh you uh Mr Mumba in May this year if you can hear me um the governor was
Said you know apologized to IMO workers over non-payment of salaries that was in May and he cited the example that you cited that there was some uh uh Automation and biodata capturing system for pensioners how many pensioners were affected at this time in May what year
This year said the year no no that’s not correct what he said that’s not correct have been may this year where did he say that so you’re saying that the media reports that the governor owned up to the fact that uh workers and retirees hadn’t been paid for a while since 2007
Was not correct I didn’t get that please you didn’t get what I said or you didn’t get no I I didn’t get what you said I didn’t get what said in May this year may 2 it was reported this year that the Govern govern apologized to workers and retirees over uh unpaid
Salaries pensions and gratuities and you also mentioned it here this morning that it was because of biodata capturing and um other technology stuff like that how many how many workers were affected by that hitch that you talked about no no no no the the governor have apologized
To workers and pensioners this year is not possible it’s not true and I I I challenge you to produce the evidence because by this year that we are talking about if in fact from last year two years ago all verified workers in state have been paid I mean were paid as an W
So the governor couldn’t have and mind you just uh two about a month ago the pensioners where they were adopting the governor said the the the chairman of nigeran said in the Pres of his National presid govern has paid all pensioners and that this is the first time it is
Happening so how can how can they be saying that and talking of the government apologize it’s not true it’s not correct right commissioner uh we have to Anchor at this point we do thank you for your time de commissioner for information for IMO State thank you so
Much for having me all right so that is the show today we do thank you all for watching well I know we’re for your messages but not to worry we’ll make our time and take them next time we’ll see you again tomorrow I’m train balof goodbye thank you for
Watching have a productive day I’m [Applause] A
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