RIVERS NLC, TUC CALL FOR MBU’S REMOVAL

NANS Cautions Amaechi Against Dragging Students Into Rivers Crisis
ANGERED by the action of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu in ordering the dispersal of newly-recruited teachers with teargas, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state, have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if Mbu is not redeployed in the next 21 days.
The organised labour is also seeking an unreserved apology from the police commissioner over the incident.
The state NLC Chairman, Chris Oruge, and his TUC counterpart, Hyginus Onuegbu, while briefing journalists Friday in Port Harcourt, called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, and the Police Service Commission (PSC) to act on their demand, if they are interested in the welfare and development of Rivers State and the country at large. 
Oruge explained that their planned action was based on the fact that the dispersed teachers were their members who had received their appointment letters as teachers before the incident.
“The teachers, who were dispersed with teargas at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, are our members, having received their appointment letters as teachers,” Oruge said.
He added that it was disheartening that Mbu has not given any tangible reasons for the police action, warning that if his activities were not checked, they could throw the state into anarchy.
Oruge continued: “For the avoidance of doubt, the organised labour hereby demands that Mbu be redeployed forthwith to avert imminent industrial disharmony in Rivers State.
“To this end, we hereby give a 21-day ultimatum to the IGP and PSC to address the issues raised above expeditiously.”
Meanwhile, the leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged Governor Chibuike Amaechi not to drag students into the political crisis rocking the state.
Its President, Yinka Gbadebo, made the call Friday during the union’s Senate meeting at the University of Port Harcourt, accusing the governor of paying the Deputy Senate President of NANS, John Shema, to woo the students to his favour.
He said: “The attention of NANS leadership has been drawn to unsavoury attempts by the governor, in his desperate efforts at polarising the united leadership of our organisation, NANS.
“It would be recalled that as a responsible organisation, the leadership of NANS has since the beginning of the crisis in the state restrained its members from either commenting or taking sides in the crisis.” 
Source: Guardian