November 15, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government, on Wednesday, met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), with a view to resolving the ongoing strike.
The meeting, which was held at the office of the National Security Adviser, was attended by the NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Labour, Simon Bako Lalong; Minister of State, Nkeiruka Onyeajeocha; Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour Mr Emmanuel Igbinosa and the Director Trade Union Services.
Labour leaders were led to the meeting by TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, NLC Secretary General, Emmanuel Ugboaja, TUC Secretary General, Nuhu Toro and other Labour leaders.
THEWILL reports that the NLC and the TUC had declared an indefinite nationwide strike to protest the assault and brutalisation of NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1.
Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, Lalong said the two sides had frank, fruitful and genuine discussions on steps that have been taken by the government to address the concerns of labour over the incident in Imo State.
“Labour agreed to take the outcome back to their members and consider the plea of government to call off the strike in the interest of the nation”, he said.
On his part, President of TUC, Comrade Osifo, said the meeting was robust and “with a lot of assurances given by the government team that some suspects have been apprehended on the Imo incident.”
Osifo said they were informed about other actions that the Government has taken, as well as other measures it will take in addressing the grievances of labour.
“Labour will go back and appraise the outcome of the meeting and communicate to its members appropriately with a view to taking a decision the way forward”, Makut Simon Macham, Special Adviser to Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, quotec Osifo in a press statement on Wednesday.
