By Merit Ibe
The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) has called on the Federal Government and Labour Unions to avert disruption of socio-economic activities.
OPSN is made up of five business membership organisations, namely: Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME) and Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI).
The position of OPSN was contained in a statement signed by the Directors General of the above named five business membership organisation and released on their behalf by the Director General of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Seguin Ajayi-Kadir, being the current Secretariat of the OPSN.
While recognising the right of Labour Unions to pursue the welfare of its members, the OPS noted that the sector will continue to implore the government to employ its best endeavours to reengage the leadership of the Unions and find an amicable ground to avert the imminent disruption in business activities that will attend the protest.
The OPS opined that adequate consideration should be given to the dire state of the economy and the possible unintended social unrest that may result from the protests.
It urged its members to be circumspect in their business operations, “as we await the outcome of ongoing consultations between the Government and the Labour Unions.
“The OPSN has followed keenly, the developments following the recent call by the National Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) for a nationwide peaceful protest or rally.
“The protest is scheduled for Wednesday 2nd August 2023. It would appear that the series of consultations between the Federal Government and the Labour Union have not yielded positive results and the latter has resolved to go ahead with the protest.
“While recognizing the right of the Labour Union to pursue the welfare of its members, we continue to implore the Government to employ its best endeavours to reengage the leadership of the Unions and find an amicable ground to avert the imminent disruption in business activities that will attend the protest.
“We opine that adequate consideration should be given to the dire state of the economy and the possible unintended social unrest that may result from the protests.
“We call on our members to be circumspective in their business operations, as we await the outcome of ongoing consultations between the Government and the Labour Unions.”