Local government workers in Anambra State yesterday threatened to embark on indefinite strike over seizure of their check off dues for six months by Governor Peter Obi.
President, National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Mr Jerry Nnubia, who spoke to newsmen, said government had seized their check off dues because they participated in the recent nationwide strike by NLC over the new minimum wage which it was yet to implement.
”Government has with held our check off dues for the past six months and has up till now not given any reason for doing so. But we believe that the governor wants to punish workers because we went on strike over the new minimum wage,” he said.
Nnubia said the union would embark on strike after meeting with the workers on the matter, adding that the union had options of either dragging government to court or going on indefinite strike because the check off dues was backed by law.
He said the union took the decision after peaceful moves to make government see reason after with held check off dues should be released to enable the union take adequate care of its members’ welfare.
According to Nnubia, the seizure of the check off dues has affected its operations adversely, particularly in the area of the welfare of the dead and living members, which it does annually.
He wondered why it was only in Anambra State workers were being punished for participating in a nationwide strike and called on government to tow the path of honour by releasing the check off dues.
On the non-conduct of local government election in the state, he called on the state House of Assembly to scrap transition caretaker committees put in place by Governor Peter Obi’s administration.
He said the political arrangement at the third tier level of government was a major factor inhibiting the conduct of council poll for the past 12 years by successive governments.
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