The Nigerian government has appealed to labour to suspend its two-day planned strike scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
The appeal was made in Abuja on Monday by the Minister of Labour and Employment Mr Simon Lalong.
The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, after its National Executive Council meeting NEC held on Friday last week, declared that it will embark on a two-day warning strike to drive home its demands for the government’s attention to the plight of workers.
Addressing Journalists, the Minister said “It has become pertinent to appeal to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to suspend its intended 2-day warning strike, as such action would be detrimental to the gains already being recorded on our course to securing a greater future for Nigerian workers and citizens at large.
“Furthermore, I would request that the Comrade Leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress gives this Government some time to settle and address the issues on the ground holistically,” he said.
He said that the Cabinet of the present administration was only recently sworn in by President Bola Tinubu and all cabinet members have hit the ground running by receiving briefings from their MDAs.
“Therefore, the issues raised by the leadership of the NLC are some issues that I and the Hon. Minister of State for Labour and Employment are being briefed upon. In the next few weeks, we intend to address them holistically.
“Consequently, I use this opportunity to reassure Nigerian workers that this government would never take them for granted nor fail to appreciate their support and understanding.
“We shall continue to pursue policies aimed at massive employment generation in all sectors of the economy as well as look into immediate challenges that have emerged out of the policies of government. We cannot do this in an atmosphere devoid of industrial peace.”
The Minister also said that he is yet to receive official communication of the NLC Communiqué following its National Executive Council Meeting, as required by the law.
“Like many Nigerians, I and the Hon. Minister of State got the information from media sources. I believe my dear comrades will do the needful by following laid down processes for handling such matters since the cabinet is now in place unlike previously when there was no cabinet on the ground.
In specific terms, let me take the issues presented by the NLC one after the other. On the issue of subsidy removal, palliative measures are already being handled and implemented, beginning with the State and local governments.
“You will recall that on the directive of Mr. President, the Federal Government dispatched trucks of rice and other grains to States for immediate distribution to most vulnerable citizens.
“In addition, the National Economic Council under the Chairmanship of His Excellency the Vice President approved the disbursement of N5 billion naira to the 36 States and the FCT for purchase and distribution of more palliatives and further interventions,” he said.
While expressing sympathy to Nigerians and in particular the workers over the challenges that have arisen from the removal of Petrol Subsidy and other policies of the government, the Minister said that the government is not unaware that the implementation of what he called difficult policies come along with a measure of hardship for all citizens of this country.
“However, the Government has to take these decisions now rather than delay them further and put the nation into more difficulties that might be impossible to reverse.”
On the issue of the conflict between the Nigeria Police and the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW, which is one of the groups of the NLC, the Mr Minister promised that the matter would be looked into without delay.
“In line with the subsisting laws of the Federation and International Conventions that Nigeria is party to, I do not believe that this conflict is insurmountable,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has confirmed that the Minister will meet the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress today Monday.
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