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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The leadership of the National Assembly, on Sunday, met with the organised labour in a last ditch effort to avert an industrial action over the disagreement between the Federal Government and Labour on a new minimum wage.
The meeting, which held at the Senate wing of the National Assembly had in attendance the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and other principal officers of the National Assembly.
Also in attendance were the Secretary to Government of the Federation ( SGF), George Akume; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, as well as leaders of organised labour, amongst others.
Akpabio, while speaking, before the meeting went into a closed door session, said the meeting was intended to find a resolution to issues surrounding a new minimum wage for the country.
Nevertheless, the Senate President said there was need to thread cautiously on the minimum wage, so as to afford creating new problems for workers, especially those in the private sector.
According to him, “I do know that Mr President has set up a very serious committee to negotiate with labour. Secretary to Government, I am sure you have been deeply involved in the negotiation. The Head of Service, you have always been deeply informed.
“We are not taking over the work of the executive. We are not taking over the work of the TUC, neither are we taking over the work of the NLC. We just said we should hear from you. It is very difficult to negotiate for peace in an atmosphere of crisis. ‘
