The organised Labour in Rivers State has warned of possible strategic actions if the State of Emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu is not reversed.
The union condemned the declaration, citing its adverse impact on the people of the state, particularly regarding the non-payment of salaries for Local Government Council workers.
This statement was issued in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, signed by the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Alex Agwanwor, the Trade Union Congress counterpart, Ikechukwu Onyefuru, and Chuku Emecheta, the state chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council.
The statement reads in part “The Rivers State Organised Labour expresses deep concern over the state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025, and wishes to state as follows.
We strongly condemn the premature and baseless declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of elected officials, including the Governor, Deputy Governor, and House of Assembly members.
The state of emergency has exacerbated the plight of local government workers, who are yet to receive their salaries, leading to unnecessary economic hardship.
Considering the strategic importance of Rivers State to Nigeria’s economy and the Niger Delta region, the state of emergency has the potential to further harm the economy at a time when the nation is grappling with high inflation, naira devaluation, high exchange rates, rising unemployment, soaring living costs, and unaffordable electricity tariffs.
Moreover, the state of emergency places Rivers at a disadvantage, as potential investors interested in the ‘New Rivers Vision’ have withdrawn from planned investments, which could have boosted the state’s internally generated revenue.
The Rivers State Organised Labour calls on the President, National Assembly, and Judiciary to urgently reverse this state of emergency and the suspension of elected officials and return the state to normalcy.
We urge the federal government to engage in genuine dialogue to prevent further escalation of the situation in Rivers State.
If our demands are not met within a reasonable timeframe, we may be forced to take strategic union actions that could disrupt national economic activities.
While we support maintaining law and order, we insist that such measures as declaring a state of emergency and suspending elected officials must align with the Nigerian Constitution, ensuring workers are not subjected to avoidable wage invalidity, non-payment of salaries, or security threats. Government must prioritize the safety and welfare of citizens over political interests.”
The union has urged all workers to remain calm and continue their duties while awaiting a favorable response.
