By John Umeh
Local Government employees across Rivers State have suspended their planned industrial action following a last-minute intervention by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The strike, which was billed to begin at midnight on Tuesday, stemmed from a dispute in Emohua Local Government Area over unpaid salaries. The controversy erupted when re-elected council chairman, Chidi Lloyd, reportedly withheld payments to certain staff pending a verification exercise. The disagreement had already sparked protests along the East–West Road before the state government stepped in.
Governor Fubara convened an emergency closed-door meeting at Government House, Port Harcourt, bringing together the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), members of the Local Government Service Commission and Chairman Lloyd. Although full details of the agreements reached were not disclosed, all parties confirmed that an understanding was secured, prompting the strike’s suspension.
Addressing journalists after the talks, Rivers NULGE President Clifford Paul announced the decision to call off the action, assuring workers that their grievances would be resolved under the Governor’s directive. “We have reached an agreement. His Excellency has directed that the matter be handled harmoniously. On behalf of the State Administrative Council of NULGE, I call on all branch chairmen and officers to end the strike,” he said.
Israel Amadi, Chairman of the Rivers State Civil Service Commission, described the meeting as “fruitful” and praised Governor Fubara’s prompt response. Emohua LGA Chairman Chidi Lloyd also welcomed the Governor’s intervention, saying the goal was transparency rather than confrontation.
The suspension of the strike averted a potential shutdown of local government operations across the state and calmed rising tensions among workers.
