Public services grounded in Cross River over workers’ strike, as state government threatens ‘severe sanctions’

[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]

Public services across Cross River State have ground to a halt as the industrial action called by organised Labour in the state entered its second day.

The strike was called by Organised Labour to protest the refusal of the state government to meet over 14 demands in the state.

Some of the demands include; non remittance of deductions, refusal to fully Implement the minimum wage, none Implementation of promotions to workers of both state and local government.

Others are; non-implementation of full 27.5% teachers’ enhancement allowance and many others.

Many public institutions like courts, schools, as well as, Ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government remain under lock and key.

The judiciary headquarters along the Mary Slessor Road in Calabar remains locked while children in public schools have been sent back home.

Meanwhile, the state government has ordered the striking workers to return to work to facilitate the payment of salaries or risk severe sanctions.

In the directive signed by the Head of Service (HoS), Geraldine Akpet – Ekanem, the government said the the directive “is to enable the relevant officers facilitate completion of payment of salaries of civil servants who are yet to be paid.

“All civil servants are please directed to adhere strictly to this directive as failure to comply will attract severe sanctions”, she said.

However in Bulletin Number 3 made available by the Action committee and posted in most state owned government institutions, Organised Labour, urged workers to ignore the directive and stay at home.

They also accused the Head of Service of misleading the governor.

The bulletin read: “The Head of Service Mrs. Geraldine Akpet is misleading the governor.

“Instead of her to advise the governor to listen to the plight of workers, she is threatening and trying to intimidate workers.

“Comrades, ignore the HoS Press Release.

“Salaries are paid by consultants (sadly so) not office of the Accountant General. This is part of our anger.

“Continue to stay at home! Don’t be intimidated”, the bulletin read.