Major strike looms in Bayelsa over Government refusal to pay Weigh-In arrears

                                                            By Ajibola Expenses


    A major media strike has been scheduled to kick off in Bayelsa state, the Glory of All Land and the core of the Niger region on Monday December 16 following Bayelsa state government delay or refusal to pay the second batch of the Weigh-In arrears as agreed between the Bayelsa State Government, the unions and the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Governor Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state

   This is the decision reached at an emergency meeting of the tripartite unions of the Bayelsa State Councils of Radio, Television, Theater and Arts Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Product Workers (NUPPPPROW) held on Wednesday 11th December, 2019 at Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Yenagoa.

   The unions frown at the State Governnment's delay or refusal to pay the second batch of the Weigh-In arrears as agreed between the Bayelsa State Government, the unions and the Nigeria Labour Congress.

   “Consequent upon this, the meeting resolved that workers of the three unions in the state would embark on an indefinite strike beginning from Monday 16th December, 2019 due to government's failure to fulfill its part of the agreement.

 

   A statement by the RATTAWU Chairman, Comrade David Emiebor, the NUJ Chairman Comrade Samuel Numonengi and their NUPPPPROW counterpart, Comrade Eke Yeladou as well as the    Secretary of RATTAWU, Comrade Biboere Ekiye-Adobeni, the NUJ Secretary, Comrade Ogio Ipigansi and the NUPPPPROW Secretary, Comrade Seiyefa Otuogha the unions recalled that in an agreement reached, signed and documented between the three unions, NLC and Bayelsa State government, the weigh-in arrears is to be paid on a monthly basis in a space of 10 months beginning from October, 2019.

   The agreement also states that the unions shall not hesitate to embark on the indefinite strike should the state government breach any part of the agreement.

However, government has paid for the month of   October but failed to pay for the month of November, 2019.

   The unions wish to state unequivocally that the delay tactics of government is unacceptable”.

The tripartite unions therefore, directed all members of RATTAWU, NUJ and NUPPPPROW to resume the indefinite strike that was suspended starting from Monday 16th December, 2019.