The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Rivers State chapter, has called off its planned strike following a closed-door meeting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
The strike, which was due to commence at midnight on Tuesday, arose from a dispute in Emohua Local Government Area, where the recently re-elected Council Chairman, Chidi Lloyd, withheld the salaries of certain workers he insisted were not legitimate staff of the council.
The meeting was attended by the leadership of NULGE, members of the Local Government Service Commission, and the Chairman of Emohua LGA, Chidi Lloyd.
Although details of the resolutions reached were not disclosed, it was understood that an agreement was reached among the parties, paving the way for the suspension of the strike.
The industrial action had earlier sparked protests along the Emohua axis of the East–West Road, with workers barricading the entrance to the council secretariat.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Rivers State NULGE President, Clifford Paul, confirmed the suspension of the strike and assured workers that their concerns would be resolved.
The chairman of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, Israel Amadi, described the meeting as “fruitful” and commended the governor for stepping in.
Similarly, the chairman of Emohua LGA, Chidi Lloyd, lauded Governor Fubara’s transparent and decisive intervention in resolving the issue.
Rivers NULGE suspends strike amid resolution talks