Final-minute efforts by the management of the Nationwide Meeting to cease the deliberate indefinite nationwide strike by the Organised Labour failed on Sunday evening after about 4 hours of deliberations as each Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Commerce Union Congress (TUC) insisted on continuing with their strike motion starting from Monday.
The Labour Unions, nevertheless, mentioned that given the intervention of the management of the Nationwide Meeting, they may report again to their members as a way to take remaining resolution on the strike motion.
Briefing journalists after the assembly known as by the management of the Nationwide Meeting, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, mentioned great enchantment was made to the Labour leaders to name off the deliberate strike due to the detrimental implications of the motion.
“After about 4 hours deliberation with management of the Organised Labour, we resolved that the Federal Authorities ought to re-introduce the wage award of N35,000 given to all classes of federal employees from October final 12 months to February this 12 months, pending the time the difficulty of minimal wage is resolved.
“We’ve appealed to the organised labour to shelve the strike motion due to the implications and collateral harm concerned.
“For instance, we can’t presently permit hospitals to be shut down to save lots of the lives of these on emergencies or aided by oxygen to breathe.
“We’re very a lot conscious of all of the steps taken by the Federal Authorities and Labour to agree on acceptable minimal wage and really a lot prepared to affix within the negotiation by reaching out to President Bola Tinubu.
“We imagine that management of the organised labour after leaving right here will attain out to their complete membership to name off the strike within the curiosity of all Nigerians,” Akpabio mentioned.
For his half, the Speaker of the Home of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, mentioned: “the take-home from the assembly have been that the federal authorities can be prevailed upon to re-introduce the N35,000 wage award pending the time settlement on minimal wage is reached between it and the labour unions.
“That management of each the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Commerce Union Congress (TUC ) ought to go and seek the advice of with their members on the necessity to rapidly name off the strike within the curiosity of Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Nevertheless, in his personal submission after the assembly, the President of TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo, mentioned although the management of the Nationwide Meeting has prevailed on them to name off the strike going by assurance given to step into the negotiation however the strike can’t be known as off by them with out consulting their varied organs.
“It’s troublesome and infact inconceivable for us as labour leaders to name off the strike right here. We have to talk with our varied organs, that means that the commercial motion begins on Monday as deliberate,” he declared.
However, the Minister of Info and Nationwide Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, expressed optimism that the labour will name off the strike as quickly as attainable based mostly on enchantment made to them by the management of the Nationwide Meeting.
He mentioned the Federal Authorities would proceed to pay the N35,000 wage award to all classes of federal employees pending when the brand new minimal wage subject is resolved.
“Federal authorities is greater than keen to pay its workforce residing minimal wage however the N494,000 demanded for by labour is just too excessive with attendant N9.5trillion extra monetary burden.
“In as a lot the federal authorities desires to enhance the welfare and wellbeing of her 1.2 million employees, it’s additionally very conscious of the welfare and wellbeing of the remaining 200 million individuals.
“Nigeria can’t afford strike motion now. The management of the labour unions ought to please purpose with authorities and enchantment made to it by leaders of the Nationwide Meeting,” the Minister mentioned.
The Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister Price range and Nationwide Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Energy, Adebayo Adelabu, and the President NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, amongst others, attended the assembly.