Strike: Suspend your planned strike – Fg begs NLC

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has been requested by the Federal Government to delay the two-day warning strike that was supposed to start on Tuesday.

Simon Lalong, the Minister of Labour and Employment, made this plea on Monday in Abuja.

He cited the reversal of FG’s previous gains, among other things, as the reason for the appeal, while promising to address the contending issues raised by the NLC holistically if given some time to settle into the office.

He said;

It has become pertinent to appeal to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to suspend its intended two-day warning strike, as such action would be detrimental to the gains already being recorded on our course to securing a greater future for Nigerian workers and citizens at large.

Furthermore, I would request that the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress gives this government some time to settle and address the issues on the ground holistically.

It should be realised that the cabinet of this administration was only recently sworn in by Mr. President and all cabinet members have hit the ground running by receiving briefings from their MDAs.

Therefore, the issues raised by the leadership of the NLC are some issues that I and the Hon. Minister of State for Labour and Employment are being briefed upon. In the next few weeks, we intend to address them holistically.

Consequently, I use this opportunity to reassure Nigerian workers that this government would never take them for granted nor fail to appreciate their support and understanding.

We shall continue to pursue policies aimed at massive employment generation in all sectors of the economy as well as look into immediate challenges that have emerged from the policies of the government. We cannot do this in an atmosphere devoid of industrial peace, he added.

Despite the fact that the ministry has not received an official notification of the strike from the NLC, as mandated by law, the ministry plans to meet with the labour leaders at 3 p.m. on Monday to halt the planned strike.