Follow Us on Google
From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The federal government has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to suspend its scheduled nationwide two-day warning strike from Tuesday, over fuel subsidy removal without measures to cushion the effect.
Minister of Labour and Employment Simon Lalong made the plea at a press briefing on Monday in Abuja.
Lalong pleaded with the NLC to cooperate with the government and give it more time to resolve the disputed issues rather than going on strike and exacerbating the situation for the populace.
According to the minister, the issues raised by the leadership of the NLC were some of the issues that he and the Ministers of State for Labour and Employment were being briefed upon.
“The cabinet of this administration was only recently sworn in by MrPresident and all cabinet members have hit the ground running by receiving briefings from their MDAs. In the next few weeks, we intend to address them holistically,” he said.
Going over some of the issues presented by the NLC, the minister said that the issue of subsidy removal was already being addressed as palliative measures were already being handled and implemented, beginning with the State and local governments.
He noted that in the course of the coming weeks, additional measures will be announced after consulting with the leadership of the organised labour and key stakeholders.
The minister assured that the issue of the review of minimum wage which was promised by the President will also receive attention so as to ensure that the Nigerian worker is not adversely affected by the challenges of the moment.
He also promised that the issue of the conflict between the police and the leadership of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) 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.
“Without prejudice to the fact that the Nigeria Police as a frontline internal security agency has its role to play in civil and criminal matters, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has its role to play in resolving industrial relations matters. Therefore, we shall engage both parties in dialogue to find the way forward on this problem,” the minister stated.
On the matter between the organised labour with Imo and Abia State Governments, Lalong said: “I have been informed that the Nigeria Labour Congress and these State Governments had entered into collective agreements induced by industrial actions carried out by the leadership of the NLC in the States earlier in the year. I would also appeal for calm on this matter, to allow us to follow the laid down procedures of dispute resolution rather than confrontation, which has not yielded the desired results yet. We cannot continue to do the same thing and expect different results.”
On the claims of violation of workers’ rights by some employers with regards to membership of the unions in the Aviation Sector, he said: “I am yet to receive a Trade Dispute Form properly submitted to my office on this matter as required by the Trade Disputes Act CAP T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. I wish to reiterate here that no one is above the law and as such, we shall do everything possible to ensure that all concerned act according to the dictates of existing legislations.
Speaking on the issue of marauders unleashing terror on farmers across the country, the minister urged Nigerians to support the security agencies to continue to investigate and bring the culprits to book.
He further enjoined the labour movement to call on citizens to desist from taking laws into their own hands and report such matters involving members of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuffs Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN) to authorities for amicable resolution and proper action.
On the comments made by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on the proposed demolition of illegal structures, Lalong noted: “We do not believe that the FCT administration will take any action targeted at any Nigerian including the workers. In any case, there has not been any execution of the proposed actions yet which would point to unfair treatment of any worker.”
“I know that my friend and brother the FCT Minister HE Nyesom Wike is a lawyer and I know that he will operate only within the confines of the law and the provisions of the Abuja Masterplan. Besides, it is not sufficient grounds for a threat or mere suspicion or in anticipation of an action to warrant the shutdown of government machinery and stand the risk of rolling back the gains that have already been collectively made to deliver renewed hope for Nigerians.
He added that: “In light of these matters, I would like to reiterate my appeal to the leadership of the NLC to suspend their planned 2-day warning strike, and subsequent future actions, and to allow us to work together to amicably resolve these issues rather than embark on actions that would further worsen the conditions of the citizens of Nigeria.”
