Nasarawa NLC reject plans to remove Labour Laws from Exclusive List

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nasarawa State Chapter has rejected Senate’s attempt to remove labor laws from exclusive Legislative list to concurrent legislative list.

The State NLC Chairman, comrade Yusuf Iya, made the Union’s position known when he led the State Administrative Council of NLC on a courtesy call to the Legislative house today in Lafia.

Iya urged the speaker and other members of the House not to agree with the Senate’s move to remove labor laws from the exclusive list in the interest of industrial peace and harmony.

The NLC chairman said that labor laws have been domesticated since 1960 in the country and Nigeria is a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO), hence the need to reject any decision that is anti-labor in the interest of peace.

“We are here to interface with you and discuss with you some national issues.

“We have two issues, one is the issue of labor laws and the second one is the financial autonomy of the state legislature, Judiciary, and local government.

“Sir, there is an attempt by the National Assembly to remove or transfer labor laws from exclusive legislative list to concurrent legislative list.

“Doing that by the National Assembly will have negative consequences on labor and other Nigerians.

“If every state has its labor laws, it will generate tension, disunity, and disharmony between labor and employers.

“It will also discourage people from investing in our country due to its effects if labor laws are removed from the exclusive legislative list”.

Iya called on the House to reject Senate’s attempt in removing labor laws from the exclusive legislative list when the issue is brought up for discussion.

The NLC Chairman also advocated for the autonomy of the state legislature, judiciary, and local government for transparency and accountability in governance.

 

Responding, the Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Balarabe Abdullahi, appreciated the NLC for the visit and assured them that the House remained committed to the welfare of workers.

“We have heard all of your submissions, before now, we the Conference of Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly are discussing the issue of the constitutional amendment.

“I will set up a committee that will handle the issue so that we will take a common position on the issue you have raised.

“I want to assure you that this House is ready to do your bidding. The House will reject what you have rejected as far as constitutional amendment is concerned.

“What you, other people want is where we will stand for the betterment of our state.

“Once we are communicated by the National Assembly on the constitutional amendment, we will invite you and few others to know and to take a common stand on that,” he noted.

The Speaker said that the governor is ready to implement the financial autonomy for the state House of Assembly and judiciary arm once it takes off.

 

 

 

 

 

Emmanuel Ukoh