BY UKET OKA, Calabar
Cross River State workers have disrupted the State Government organised sensitisation of workers for the proposed introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme (PenCom) in the State.
The State Government had invited stakeholders including the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero and others to a one-day sensitisation meeting on the planned introduction of the new pension scheme in the State, Wednesday at the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, the State capital.
The workers who attended the event in their numbers had seated as early as 9:30 a m. waiting for the arrival of the organisers of the event and other dignitaries .
Our reporter stated that, trouble started when the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Monday Ogbodim and his NLC counterpart, Comrade Ulayi on sensing the mode of the workers in the hall attempted to address them to calm down their temper.
Daylight Reporters also gathered that as soon as they started to address the workers to exercise patience until after the event when the Organised Labour in the State would review the issues and take a common position that would benefit the workers, that they started to shout: “We no go gree,” “we no go gree,” causing the labour leaders to abruptly stop addressing them.
“It was at this time that the NLC President, Comrade Ajaero came arrived and when the workers sighted him they made advances towards him, but he was quickly whisked away from the venue,” an eye witness who preferred anonymity told our reporter.
The eye witness added that the workers were worried that there are several issues affecting them that needed the State Government’s attention for now more than the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Among the issues Daylight Reporters gathered include the non payment of gratuity to retirees since 2014, non implementation of promotion, non implementation of the annual incremental steps, among others.
Daylight Reporters also gathered that, the Organised Labour in the State had after a meeting on Monday warned workers not to extend any Comradely welcome or reception to the visiting NLC President.
However, in another twist the union leaders yesterday directed workers to attend the one day sensitisation meeting without any form of protest.
