Following discussions with the national security adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have decided to suspend the two-day nationwide strike, which was only two days old.
The labor leaders took their dialogue with the NSA to an extraordinary joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of both congresses yesterday evening, where the decision to suspend the strike was made.
Confirming the development to journalists in Abuja, NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, and TUC Deputy President, Tommy Etim, stated that the federal government, through the NSA, had demonstrated commitment during the earlier meeting to prosecute those arrested over the assault on NLC president, Joe Ajaero.
The federal government delegation at the meeting included Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyeajeocha, and the ministry’s Acting Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Igbinosa, along with the Director of Trade Union Services.
Representing the labor side were the National President of TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo, the NLC Secretary-General, Emmanuel Ugboaja, along with TUC Secretary-General Nuhu Toro and other labor leaders.
The strike, now in its second day, was initiated in protest against the federal government’s failure to implement the six-point core demands of organized labor after NLC President Ajaero was assaulted in Imo State.
Earlier yesterday, the national security adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribdau, had said the suspects in Ajaero’s brutalisation had been arrested and pleaded with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to call off the nationwide indefinite strike, but the workers’ unions have not yielded to the plea.
The industrial action embarked on by the organised labour crippled academic activities in some federal universities.
The strike came despite an injunction by the National Industrial Court (NIC), in Abuja, restraining NLC and TUC alongside their affiliates from embarking on any industrial action.
Meanwhile, before the strike was called off yesterday, the Senate had called an emergency meeting with the leadership of the NLC and the TUC towards finding a solution to the nationwide strike that had disrupted activities in the country, including the National Assembly
At the National Assembly, even though lawmakers were allowed access to their chambers by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), journalists and others were not given access to the National Assembly complex for several hours.
But the Senate, during plenary, urged the NLC, TUC, ASUU and other labour unions who joined the strike to end it immediately in the national interest and in adherence to the rule of law.
Also, the House of Representatives took steps towards ending the ongoing strike. The House resolved to engage with its Senate counterparts and collectively interface with the NLC and TUC for amicable settlement of the industrial action. This followed the adoption of motion brought under matters of urgent public importance, moved by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who urged the NLC and TUC to have faith in the parliament and dialogue with it over the issue.
