By George Okoh in Makurdi
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Benue State yesterday turned down invitation by the Benue State House of Assembly to appear before it over its planned industrial action.
The lawmakers had at their sitting a day ago, extended invitation to leaders of labour to appear before it so as to find solution to the impending strike action.
Sources within the assembly said the union leaders turned down the invitation and refuse to show up.
 The lawmakers waited for a long time but there was no show from the Labour leaders.
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker Bem Abunde who confirmed this to reporters said, “the lawmakers waited for the labour leaders but they failed to show up. The meeting was supposed to be a crucial one because the house wanted to intervene in the ongoing salary issue between government and Labour especially the indefinite strike declared by Labour. They were communicating with the clerk of the house and did not give any reason for boycotting the meeting.”
Abunde further said when the labor leaders refused to meet with the house leadership, the legislators hurriedly left for Government House where at the time of this report, they were in a closed door meeting with Governor Samuel Ortom.Â
It will be recalled that the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Ayuba Wabba and the Benue state government traded words over the labour’s leader condemnation of the state government over its inability to pay workers in the state for seven months.
In a reaction by the state government, it said Ayuba’s position were most unfortunate and unfair to the Governor Samuel Ortom administration in the State.Â
It said from the comments, it was obvious that Comrade Wabba did not have the facts as far as the issue of salaries in Benue State was concerned, adding that he could have saved himself a lot of embarrassment by not quoting any figures which in itself revealed that he did not stand on solid ground.
