The Cross River State Government has described the ongoing industrial action by organised Labour in the state as ‘politically-motivated’.
It wondered why Labour was bent on strike even when the state government had met 14 of its demands with only one remaining.
The position of the state government was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Labour Matters, Comrade Effiong Ita Umo.
In the statement, the state government “reiterated the government’s readiness to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with organised Labour provided an amicable resolution based on the principle of give and take is reached.”
The statement regretted Labour’s rigid stand and accused it of deliberately misinforming the public as to what transpired in the last negotiation meeting both parties held.
“Labour’s conduct and utterances further give a flip to the insinuation that the industrial action it embarked upon has political undertone.
“How does one explain Labour’s continued obstinacy and rigidity even when government has met 14 of their demands with just one remaining? What explanation does Labour has for deliberately misinforming the public as regards its meeting with the government if not to score some cheap political goals?, the statement querried.
Continuing, Comrade Umo’s statement said: “For the avoidance of doubt, contrary to Labour’s claim, the meeting between it and government ended in a deadlock because labour representatives walked out of the meeting without reaching an understanding with the government.
“They failed to accept the fact that during negotiation, every action must be suspended to give room for normal ground. They also insisted on meeting with the Governor for negotiation instead of those the Governor had mandated to discuss with them”
The governor’s aide also expressed the state government’s willingness to sign an MOU with Labour whenever it is ready “but MOU cannot be entered into when there is no understanding on both sides.”
