Chief Emeka Wogu

By Linda Eroke

Federal Government has summoned the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the two unions in the power sector to a meeting in Abuja over the nationwide strike threat issued by the Congress.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC had last Wednesday directed that strike committees be set up immediately across the country to mobilise all affiliates of the Congress for a nationwide wide strike over the lingering industrial crisis in the power sector.

President of the Congress, Abdulwaheed Omar had condemned the style and manner of intervention in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) imbroglio by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu.

He alleged that the minister was bye-passing the unions and attempting to deal directly with workers, adding “this appears to be a regular occurrence and portrays him as a minister always seeking to take the side of employers, instead of the expected role of arbiter”.

He warned that the Congress will be compelled to boycott all government activities involving the labour minister should he continue in that manner.

Consequently, Wogu had in a letter dated August 10, 2011 invited the labour leaders to a meeting scheduled Wednesday August 15, 2012 to discuss current labour issues in the power sector.

Wogu, in a statement issued by the Assistant Director (Press), Prince Samuel Olowookere assured Nigerian workers of the Federal Government’s commitment to implement collective agreements, while encouraging the labour unions to further embrace the spirit of tripartism in the interest of the entire nation.