LAGOS JANUARY 8TH (UROBOTODAY)-NATIONAL leadership of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, JNPSNC, has petitioned the Delta State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, expressing worry over the growing tension in the state’s labour circle, warning that same could snowball into unrest, if the current impasse between the state chapter of the council and his Special Adviser on Labour, Mr. Mike Okeme, was not amicably resolved.
JNPSNC in the state, had reportedly split into two factions with one of the factions led by Mr. Tony Toki, believed to have the backing of the governor’s aide on Labour Relations that claimed to have sacked the incumbent chairman, Mr. Goodluck Ofobruku.
Addressing newsmen in Asaba, yesterday, the embattled chairman, Mr. Ofobruku, said that he had asked his lawyers to commence legal action against some of the officers of the union, for alleged impersonation, by signing his purported impeachment last week.
A copy of the letter from the national body of the Council obtained by Vanguard, endorsed by its National Secretary, Mr Marcus Omokhuale, entitled Unnecessary meddlesomeness of Mike Okeme, Special Adviser (Labour Industrial Relations) and SERVICOM Delta State, said: “We at the national leadership of JNC find the attempt by Mike Okeme to force out the leadership of JNC in Delta State as unnecessary and an unwholesome interference in the machinery of industrial relations practice in the state.
“As a former labour leader, his action to destroy the spirit of democracy in the leadership of labour and introduce divide and rule tactics is unethical and unpardonable. This calls for your Excellency’s intervention. The national leadership of JNC is, therefore, compelled to request that Okeme be called to order and cautioned against stirring up industrial unrest in Delta State.
“JNPSNC wishes to reiterate the sanctity of the election held in February 2013, under the leadership of Mr Goodluck Ofobruku. This clarification becomes pertinent in the light of the December 30, 2013 resolution purportedly reached by some members of JNC in Delta State inside Okeme’s office to the effect that the above executive committee is dissolved.”
Okeme, in his defence, denied meddling in the affairs of the council, saying, “this is not the first time they (JNC) would change leadership and I have always recognised the new ones once they come to familiarise themselves with me and my office.”
Source: Vanguard