NEC URGES PATIENCE AS WORKERS GET READY FOR A PROLONGED STRIKE

Babatunji Wusu –

The Nigeria Labour Congress has been advised by the National Economic Council to hold off until President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day broadcast on October 1.

Caleb Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau State, made the appeal on Thursday while briefing State House reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja shortly after the NEC meeting.

He claimed that in his Independent speech on Sunday, Tinubu would address their requests in addition to other matters.

He pleaded with the organized labor’s top officials “to be patient with the Federal Government and give more time for dialogue.”

The labor union had earlier argued that no deal had been made with the Nigerian government to delay the indefinite strike that was scheduled to start on Tuesday.

The NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Mr. Benson Upah, had indicated this in a statement.

He disclosed that no contacts with the government that would result in the impending strike being postponed had been planned.

Accordingly, we feel that it is necessary to provide clarifications, according to the statement. First off, there is no agreement in place between us and the administration to halt the planned strike action. We also don’t have a time frame for a meeting with the government that might result in the strike’s suspension.

“While we do not wish to disparage or minimize the office of the Minister of Labor and Employment, this issue is outside the purview of the ministry. When we had our most recent meeting, they ought to have understood this.

“Secondly, while we recognize the contribution made by Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, in securing the release of the National Union of Road Transport Workers executives from unlawful/illegal police detention, we take issue with the ministry’s description of these executives as factional leaders,” the statement continued.