Osamagbe Imadiyi
The Organized Labour has warned that if the state of emergency in Rivers State is not lifted in a reasonable amount of time, it may be forced to take drastic measures that could disrupt the country’s economic activities.
Alex Agwanwor, the chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Ikechukwu Onyefuru, the state chairperson of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Chuku Emecheta, the chairperson of the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), all signed the statement threatening the state.
Concerns were voiced by the labour unions regarding the legitimacy, economic effects, and ramifications of President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of emergency in Rivers State. The decision to declare a state of emergency and suspend members of the House of Assembly, deputy governor Ngozi Odu, and elected governor Siminalayi Fubara was deemed premature and unjustified by them.
The union leaders maintained that these officials were freely elected by the people of Rivers State and that democracy would be undermined if they were removed through non-constitutional means. They contend that in order to preserve the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system, such acts must be undone.
The organized labour warned that the state of emergency could have catastrophic economic effects, emphasizing Rivers State’s strategic importance to the Niger Delta region and Nigeria’s economy.
It claimed that more instability in Rivers State could exacerbate the country’s already dire circumstances, which include inflation, naira devaluation, high exchange rates, growing unemployment, and soaring living expenses. The statement also noted that prospective investors who had shown interest in the state’s economic initiative have been turned off by the political unpredictability brought on by the state of emergency.
