From: MAGNUS EZE, Abuja

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (Trade Union Side) has faulted the alleged victimisation of labour leaders in Rivers State, by the State Head of Civil Service, for fighting for its legitimate right.

Chairman of the Council, Mr. Kiri Mohammed,‎ in a statement in Abuja, said issuance of query to the labour leaders for demanding the implementation of the proposed Health Insurance Scheme for the workers was unacceptable.

Kiri, who is also Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as well as National President of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), said the union would not hesitate to pull out workers for a sympathy strike with workers of Rivers if such obnoxious query was not withdraw and the issue of health insurance scheme resolved within a shortest period.

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He urged the Rivers State Head of Civil Service to embrace dialogue with the workers by consolidating on the existing industrial harmony witnessed in the state in recent time.

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council said that the State Government had always been commended for the sustained cordial industrial harmony in the State Civil Service, but regretted the implementation of the proposed Health Insurance Scheme was bringing ugly development in their industrial relations.

“The Joint Council (Trade Union Side) calls on the Head of Civil Service to withdraw the queries and embrace dialogue in resolving the impasse to the satisfaction of both parties in the interest of industrial peace in the state civil service.