Labour leaders to consult after meeting with FG over nationwide strike

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) has agreed to consult with their members after a meeting on Wednesday with the federal government delegation on the ongoing nationwide strike.

The meeting was held at the office of the national security adviser (NSA) in Abuja to find a lasting solution to the impasse between the unions and the government.

BACKGROUND

Workers commenced a nationwide strike on November 14 to protest against the alleged brutality of Joe Ajaero, president of NLC, in Imo state.

Ajaero was reportedly picked up from the Imo council secretariat of the congress in Owerri by heavily armed police officers.

But the Imo police command denied the allegation, noting that the NLC president was taken into protective custody to avoid being lynched by a mob.

On November 5, the national industrial court in Owerri, the capital of Imo, issued an order restraining labour unions from embarking on a strike in the state.

Also, the federal government secured an order restraining the unions and their affiliates from embarking on the strike.

Despite the court orders, the labour unions directed their members to proceed with the strike.

The NSA, in a statement, had said he was worried about the implications of the strike on Nigerians and its impact on the economy and security of the country.

He called on the labour unions to call off their nationwide strike, noting that investigation into the assault on Ajaero in Imo, has commenced.

OUTCOME OF THE MEETING

The federal government was represented at the meeting by Simon Lalong, minister of labour and employment; Nkeiruka Onyeajeocha, minister of state for labour and employment, and Nuhu Ribadu, the NSA.

The unions were represented by Festus Usifo, president of TUC;  Emmanuel Ugboaja, general secretary of NLC and other labour leaders.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the sitdown, the TUC president said they had a robust discussion with the federal government’s team.

“We just came for a meeting the NSA invited us for and as you can see, the two ministers from the ministry of labour and employment also participated,” Usifo said.

“So we had some robust conversations where a lot of assurances were given, in furtherance to the release that was done this morning by the NSA that some people have been apprehended and that they will coordinate the investigation.

“We also told him our part of the story and all, but at the end of the day, they made several appeals to us and several promises on what they are going to do and the ones that they have already done.

“So we said we’ll go back to reappraise the conversations that we have had and we’ll communicate accordingly.”

“The strike was caused by something, it is a symptom of a problem and it is a problem that we came here now to have a conversation on and with all the assurances that they have given us, with the office of the NSA promising to coordinate everything.

“So, every discussion we have had here, I mean if you can see us, how many of us are here? We need to take it (the discussions) back, we’ll look at it, we’ll examine it and take a decision.”