NLC SEEKS REVALIDATION FOR SACKED RIVERS LG WORKERS

The Nigeria Labour Congress has appealed to the Rivers State Government to give sacked local government workers another opportunity to prove that they are genuine employees.

The state NLC Chairman, Alex Agwanwor, made the appeal in Port Harcourt, urging Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State Local Government Service Commission to review the outcome of the recent staff verification exercise.

The verification was conducted across the state’s 23 local government areas as part of efforts to identify ghost workers and strengthen financial discipline in the public service.

However, Agwanwor said some legitimate workers might have been left out during the exercise and should be allowed to provide evidence of their employment for further verification.

He suggested that affected workers be permitted to present documents such as letters of employment, staff identity cards, nominal rolls and bank statements.

The NLC chairman said the union was willing to work with the state government to resolve cases involving genuine employees.

He, however, clarified that the union would not defend workers who were illegally employed or underage.

Agwanwor urged the government and the Local Government Service Commission to consider the circumstances of workers who were legally employed but were not captured during the verification, stressing that genuine employees should not lose their jobs without an opportunity to prove their status.