Local government workers in Rivers State have suspended their strike after a closed-door meeting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The strike, scheduled to begin at midnight on Tuesday, was triggered by a dispute in Emohua Local Government Area, where the recently re-elected Council Chairman, Chidi Lloyd, refused to pay some staff he claimed had not been duly verified.
The meeting had in attendance the leadership of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), members of the Local Government Service Commission, and the Chairman of Emohua LGA, Chidi Lloyd.
The outcome of the meeting, though not disclosed in detail, indicates that the parties have reached an understanding, leading to the suspension of the strike which had earlier escalated into a protest along the Emohua axis of the East–West Road.
Speaking to journalists after the closed-door meeting, Rivers State NULGE President, Clifford Paul, announced the suspension of the strike and assured members that their grievances would be addressed.
“We have resolved. His Excellency has directed that this matter will be handled harmoniously,” Paul said. “On behalf of the State Administrative Council of NULGE, I am calling on all branch chairmen and officers to end the strike.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission, Israel Amadi, described the deliberations as productive and thanked the Governor for his intervention.
“It was a very fruitful deliberation,” he said. “The Governor has given clear directives, and we are confident that the resolutions will be implemented.”