Senate Pleads With Organised Labour to Call Off Strike

* Mandates Akpabio to urgently meet with NLC, TUC leaders

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

The Senate has appealed to organised labour to call off the ongoing strike.

The industrial action came as a result of the assault against the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, in Imo State.

The upper chamber has also mandated its leadership to immediately summon an emergency meeting with labour leaders to address the issue. 

The Senate resolutions followed a motion by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi) during Wednesday’s plenary. 

NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) commenced a nationwide strike on Tuesday to protest the alleged attack on Ajaero in Imo State on November 1.  

Official activities in many states and the FCT were grounded as workers joined in the industrial action. 

Ningi’s motion was presented by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele.

The Bauchi lawmaker condemned the attack on Ajaero, describing it as unfortunate. 

He said the NLC president had the constitutional rights, as a Nigerian and an indigene of Imo State to be involved in the electioneering in the state.

He said it was wrong to brutalise him for participating in the process. 

According to him, “The Senate is aware that the strike which has commenced since 14th of November 2023 is not unconnected with the alleged assault on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress during the electioneering that took place in Imo State. 

“The Senate worries that most of the demands of the NLC are not targeted towards just the welfare of the Nigerian workers but essentially targeted most essentially at issues arising from the alleged political involvement of the President of the NLC, who also is an indigene and also have a right to a part of the campaign process in Imo State.”

The lawmaker said it was found that as a matter fact, there was indeed an assault on the President of the NLC freely participating in political campaign process of Imo as a citizen of the state.

He expressed worry that if the strike was allowed to continue, Nigerians would be the worst for it and it could lead to a total collapse of the economy.