•Laud Governor Wike for settling minimum wage
•civil servants berate labour leaders for meeting with Rivers APC Chieftains
Civil servants working under Rivers State government, yesterday, shunned an indefinite strike declared by the organised labour.
On Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its counterpart, Trade Union Congress (TUC), had directed their members to sit at home to express non-implementation of the minimum wage.
Chairmen of NLC and TUC, Beatrice Itubo and Austin Jonah respectively, had declared to paralyse business activities through the indefinite strike expected to commence Monday midnight.
The civil servants said that there was no need to embark on a meaningless strike when Governor Wike is paying minimum wage.
A civil servant, Charles Tamuno said that if there are minor issues of disagreement, it should be settled through negotiations and not strike.
Jennifer Akiri, another civil servant said that workers refused to comply with the directive of labour because NLC leaders were rumoured to have met with APC Chieftains in the state last Sunday.
Rivers State NLC Chairman, Beatrice Itubo retired from the State Civil Service and is reported to have formally joined the APC.
The failed strike is said to be politically motivated.
Meanwhile, a National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt later Monday, restrained Labour from carrying out its planned indefinite strike.
The trial judge, Justice Z. M. Bashir, granted an Order of Interim Injunction in Suit No. NICN/PHC/41/2020,
stopping Labour from carrying out the proposed strike.
When Daily Sun visited the State Secretariat, there was no compliance, as offices were opened and workers on duty.
However, the state courts were not opened. It was gathered from some lawyers and litigants that the closure of courts had nothing to do with Labour threat, but COVID-19 prevention.