Wamakko/PHCN: NLC set to embark on strike

FOLLOWING the human right violation against a worker of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, (PHCN) by Governor Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has mobilised all workers, both in public and private sectors in Sokoto State, towards a solidarity action in the state, if the governor refused to apologise.

The NLC in a press release, signed by its President, Abdulwahed Omar, and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, said that “the position of the congress, is that the governor must apologise publicly, and he must do this as quickly as possible, otherwise we will unleash series of actions, to protect the integrity of not just workers in Sokoto State, but that of the generality of Nigerian workers.

“Since the governor has opted to ignore the union’s modest request for apology, and consequently put the whole state in total blackout, it is clear that his intentions were not just to violate the rights of the PHCN worker, but also to inflict deeper hardships on the citizenry.

“By any standard, what the governor did was not just barbaric, irresponsible, but coming from a man of his political standing, it also sends a disturbing signal to ordinary citizens, who may decide to follow the governor’s example by opting for jungle justice rather than follow legal and constitutional procedures,” it stated.

It is recalled that the Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Wamakko, recently allegedly beat a worker of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to a state of coma.

Meanwhile, in a reaction, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), had asked the Governor to apologise.

Typical of an arrogant governor, he chose to keep mute ever since, resulting in the total blackout being experienced in the state for about a week now.

This is absolutely unacceptable in any decent society, and an uncivilised, undemocratic behaviour least expected of anyone elected to serve the interests of the entire citizens of the state,” NUEE said in a statement.