The Rivers State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has suspended its planned industrial action following a closed-door meeting with Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
The strike, which was set to begin at midnight, stemmed from a dispute in Emohua Local Government Area, where the re-elected council chairman, Chidi Lloyd, was accused of withholding the salaries of some workers whom he claimed were not legally employed.
Tension had been rising among local government workers in the state, especially in Emohua, where the issue had already led to protests. Earlier in the week, angry workers had barricaded the council secretariat and blocked parts of the East–West Road, demanding the immediate payment of their salaries and recognition of their employment status.
To prevent the situation from escalating, Governor Fubara invited all parties to a peace meeting at the Government House. The meeting included representatives from NULGE, the Local Government Service Commission, and the Chairman of Emohua LGA, Chidi Lloyd.
Although the full details of the agreement reached during the meeting were not made public, it was confirmed that a resolution had been reached, prompting the suspension of the planned strike.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Rivers NULGE President, Clifford Paul, confirmed the development. He said the union had listened to the governor and trusted that their grievances would be addressed fairly.
“We have decided to suspend the strike following the governor’s intervention and the outcomes of today’s meeting,” he said. “We believe this matter will be resolved amicably in the interest of workers.”
Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Israel Amadi, described the meeting as “fruitful” and commended the governor for taking swift and direct action.
“This kind of leadership is what we need—listening to both parties and guiding us toward a peaceful resolution,” Amadi stated.
Emohua Chairman, Chidi Lloyd, also praised Governor Fubara, describing his role as “transparent and decisive.” He expressed optimism that the dispute would now be laid to rest.
“The governor has handled this issue with fairness. We are all satisfied with the outcome of the discussions,” Lloyd said.
The salary dispute had created serious tension between local government workers and the Emohua council leadership. NULGE had accused Lloyd of arbitrarily declaring some workers as illegitimate and refusing to pay them their entitlements. The chairman, however, claimed that those affected were not properly employed and insisted on a verification process.
Governor Fubara’s intervention appears to have calmed nerves for now, as the union awaits the implementation of the agreement reached.
The state government has yet to issue an official statement on the next steps, but stakeholders believe the outcome of the meeting marks a positive move toward resolving internal disputes across the local government system.
