The relationship between Organised Labour in Bayelsa State and Governor Seriake Dickson finally broke down yesterday, following the inability of the governor to pay backlog of salaries owed workers.
The state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in a joint statement directed their members to embark on an indefinite strike to protest “Dickson’s insensitivity to their plight”.
Dickson and his Restoration Government owe civil servants salaries about five months and local government employees for about 13 months.
The development has thrown workers and residents into untold hardship with many of them begging.
Non-payment of salaries has brought the economy of Bayelsa, known generally as a civil service state, to its knees, with many business ventures shutting down operation.
The labour unions had earlier given Dickson a 21-day ultimatum to pay workers or face industrial action.
The unions said the strike option became necessary, following the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum.
The NLC and TUC, after a joint meeting at the council’s secretariat, said they could no longer guarantee the existing industrial harmony in the state.
The unions said the government had refused to yield to their demands.
The NLC Chairman, John Bipre Ndiomu, and TUC Chairman, Tari Dounana, deliberated on the plight of the workers.
On the nationwide strike called by NLC, the action did not achieve its expected effectiveness as workers went to work as usual.
The main secretariat and offices in Yenegoa opened for work as civil servants reported early to work.
Many of the workers in the main secretariat reported to office as early as 8am. Banks also opened for business.
But courts in the state capital did not open just as the House of Assembly did not sit.