Organized Labour Threatens Economic Disruptions Over State of Emergency in Rivers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC) have issued a stern warning to the federal government, threatening to take decisive actions that could disrupt national economic activities unless the State of Emergency declared in Rivers State is reversed. The declaration, made by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, has drawn sharp criticism from the labor unions, which have voiced serious concerns over its legality, economic impact, and broader consequences for the state and the nation.

In a joint statement issued on March 25, the state chairpersons of the three labor bodies, including Alex Agwanwor (NLC), Sir Comrade Ikechukwu Onyefuru (TUC), and Comrade Chuku Emecheta (JNC), argued that the federal government’s decision was not only hasty but also undermined democratic processes. “The people of Rivers State freely elected their governor, deputy governor, and members of the House of Assembly. Any attempt to remove them outside constitutional processes is a direct attack on democracy,” the statement emphasized.

The labor leaders went on to describe the state of emergency as “premature and baseless,” asserting that such drastic measures were unjustifiable. “We insist that the action must be reversed to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system,” the union leaders said. Their criticism was underscored by a clear call for respect for constitutional processes and an end to the interference in the state’s governance.

The unions also highlighted the immediate economic repercussions of the emergency declaration, particularly for local government workers. According to the statement, many public servants in Rivers State have not received their salaries, leaving them vulnerable to increased financial hardship. “The withholding of wages has caused avoidable economic suffering for these workers, particularly at a time when the cost of living is already extremely high,” the labor leaders lamented.

Further raising alarm over the economic impact, the unions warned that the state of emergency could have devastating consequences for Rivers State’s economy, which plays a vital role in Nigeria’s overall economic framework. “Rivers is a strategic state, not just for the Niger Delta region, but for the entire economy of Nigeria. Any instability here could worsen the nation’s already dire economic conditions,” the statement warned.

The unions also pointed out that the political uncertainty caused by the state of emergency has already begun to affect investment in the state. “Potential investors who had shown interest in Rivers State’s economic initiatives are now rethinking their plans due to the instability,” the statement read. This loss of investor confidence is seen as a significant blow to the state’s efforts to boost its internally generated revenue (IGR).

Concluding their statement, the labor groups reiterated their readiness to take action if the situation is not addressed. “If the state of emergency is not reversed within a reasonable timeframe, we will have no choice but to take decisive steps, which may disrupt economic activities across the nation,” the unions warned.