There was no usual fanfare at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt on 1st May, Workers’ Day. For the first time in recent memory, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State boycotted the annual celebration.
Instead, workers gathered at the NLC Secretariat in D-Line, Port Harcourt, holding placards and chanting messages that called for the immediate reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Dr Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who have all been suspended in the political crisis rocking the state
The decision to snub the stadium celebration followed a directive by the NLC national president, Joe Ajaero, who, in a viral video, urged Rivers workers to stay away from any Labour Day festivities, saying the state was no longer operating under a democratic government.
Obeying the call, the workers converged peacefully at the Secretariat, with placards reading: ‘Reinstate Rivers State Government’, ‘We want Governor Fubara back’, ‘We say no to military leadership in Rivers State’, and ‘8–12 hours a day demands a pension’.
Addressing the crowd, the State NLC Chairman, Alex Agwanwor, said the union would not back down in its defence of democracy and workers’ welfare.
“The organised labour fought for democracy, we are a product of democracy and we will continue to fight till democracy is well entrenched in our land,” he said.
Agwanwor called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene urgently and restore the elected officials to their positions.
“We appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to use his good office and intention to reinstate the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to their offices as soon as possible,” he said.
He also had a message for the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), urging him to fast-track the reconciliation process.
“We also urge the Sole Administrator to facilitate the peaceful reconciliation process that he has been saddled with to expedite the quick return of our elected representatives, as is the case in other states of the federation,” Agwanwor added.
While the protest highlighted the ongoing political crisis, workers also used the opportunity to push for key labour issues. They demanded the payment of pension arrears, gratuities, promotions for non-teaching staff in polytechnics, and better welfare for commercial riders across the state.
Agwanwor confirmed that the NLC had met with the Sole Administrator the previous day, but maintained that the union would remain neutral and continue to prioritise workers’ welfare above politics.
“The NLC at the state and national level, we are not part of any engagement with any organisation between the Rivers State government, the Sole Administrator or whoever,” he said.
“So, for us, we are willing to continue to partner with all stakeholders, all employers of labour in Rivers State, for the advancement of the welfare of our members in Rivers State.”
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