The Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, has been asked by the Trade
Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to reinstate 344 lecturers of the State
Polytechnic, Bori, who were sacked last week.The sacked lecturers were employed in September 2014 by his predecessor, Rotimi Ameachi. The union has also criticised the governor for disbanding the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMA-RIV).
This position was contained in a statement jointly signed by the TUC president, Bala Kaigama and secretary general, Musa Lawal, stating that sacking of workers is not in the interests of the Rivers people.
“Disengaging 344 lecturers and other personnel in one fell swoop without sparing a thought about what would become of them and their dependants is very improper. It is our view that the governor should have a rethink and reverse that move,” the TUC asserted.
The union expressed shock and disappointment at the news of the sackings given the consequences on the affected workers and their dependents.
The TUC said that Wike’s action is connected with the political atmosphere prior to him being elected the governor, advising that since the election is over, the governor should be gracious to all. The labour leaders urged the governor to focus on delivering the campaign promises made during electioneering.
TUC said: “If the reported cases of the mass sack of 344 lecturers and others employed at the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori since September 2014 by the state’s immediate past administration led by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi and the disbandment of the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMA-RIV) are anything to go by, then we might be tempted to believe that the new governor of the state, Barrister Nyesom Wike, is out to play a politics of vendetta.
“Nigerians have become increasingly interested in public affairs and impatient for good governance because of years of unfulfilled promises by their leaders. They are much wiser now and can no longer be fooled and impoverished by a minute percentage of the populace” .
The labour union wondered how the sacked workers who voted for the governor would explain to family members that the person that they voted for has now relieved them of their source of livelihood.
“How will they explain to their friends, family members and associates that the man they so much believed in and voted for has relieved them of their jobs in spite of the fact that job creation and provision of infrastructure were among his campaign promises?” the TUC queried.
Speaking about the TIMA-RIV, whose officers have been accused of being a nuisance, causing accidents and the loss of innocent lives, and extortion, the TUC advised that anyone found to have committed such offences should be made to face the law.
The union warned Wike not take decisions that could be misconstrued as a witch hunt.
The Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, last week sacked 344 lecturers of State Polytechnic, Bori, stating their employment did not follow due process.
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