Total Compliance As Strike Enters Day 3 In Cross River.

By Our Reporter

As the sit at home order extended to civil servants in Cross River State by the leadership of Organized Labour in the state enters its third day. The Parchment has observed full compliance by members of the state workforce as many government offices visited in the state capital remained under lock and key.

At the state secretariat along the Murtala Mohammed highway in Calabar, some labour leaders were seen around the gates leading to the secretariat which houses several important ministries and agencies of government including a few private organizations.

The state broadcasting corporation when visited was also under lock as workers were not allowed in to the premises. The governor’s office also was not spared as the labour leaders ensured absolute compliance by ensuring civil servants remained at home.

Organized labour, the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had on Tuesday October 12 ordered civil servants in the state to sit at home over failure of the state government to address some of their agitations which includes, payment of gratuity and pensions among other things.

But in a Press Release on Wednesday, the state Head of Service, Geraldine Ekanem however, ordered civil servants to return to work beginning from Thursday 14 October, threatening that “attendance will be taken by all Directors/Heads of administration and submitted to the office if the Head of Service for necessary action”

On Thursday morning the Labour leaders raised alarm, accusing the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, governor’s office, Alfred Mboto of moving from one government office to another and destroying their locks with the assistance of some men of the Nigerian Police.

However, the Labour leaders through several bulletins has continued to call on their members to remain at home despite threats by government.

The state governor, Ben Ayade who has been in Paris is yet to be back in the state. It is not clear if the state deputy governor, Ivara Esu has yet met with the labour leaders since Tuesday when the strike started.