The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday announced the immediate suspension of the 5-day warning strike in Kaduna following Federal Government’s intervention in the impasse between labour and Kaduna state government.
The warning strike, which commenced on Monday, was to protest the mass sack of workers in Kaduna state.
The strike led by NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba supported by other labour leaders has crippled business and commercial activities, shutting down the state.
This is just as Governor Nasir el-Rufai remained adamant that he won’t go back on his decision to sack the workers.
Following the impasse and untold hardship that it has forced on residents of the state, federal government had to wade in by inviting both parties to Abuja for a meeting on Thursday to end the impasse and find a lasting solution to the crisis.
Addressing journalists Wednesday night in Kaduna, Comrade Wabba said that the suspension is due to the invitation extended to the NLC leadership and Kaduna state government to map out a way forward.
He thanked the citizens of Kaduna state for their cooperation during the three days that the strike lasted, while apologising for any inconveniences suffered during three days warning strike.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has apprehended the NLC strike by inviting the two parties to the trade dispute, Governor Nasir el-Rufai and top officials of the state, as well as the NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba and top NLC leaders to an emergency conciliation meeting Thursday morning. A letter separately sent to both parties signed by Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Charles Akpan, on behalf of the Minister reads in parts, “the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige has apprehended the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna state.
“He has therefore invited the two parties to the trade dispute, the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai and top officials of the State as well as the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and top NLC leaders to an emergency conciliation meeting by 11am, tomorrow, Thursday, May 20, 2021 at the office of the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment, Federal Secretariat, Abuja.
“The Minister further directed the two parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the resolution of the issues in contention. The letter separately addressed to both the Governor of Kaduna state and the President of the NLC reads in part:
“Sequel to the strike prompted by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) one of the federations of Trade Unions in Nigeria, and the subsequent withdrawal of work and services in almost all public sector establishments and institutions in Kaduna state, including but not limited to the essential services in electricity, water and health, which has consequently resulted and inflicted huge damage and loss to the economy and well-being and even loss of lives to the people of Kaduna state in the last three days.
“I am therefore constrained in the exercise of my powers as the Minister of Labour and Employment, under the Trade Disputes Act, CAP. T8, Laws of Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004; to invite you and your top officials to the emergency trade dispute conciliation meeting.
“Between the transition period for the meeting you are please requested to maintain the status quo ante bellum this dispute, so that the enabling climate for the resolution of the issues in dispute will not be hindered by the creation of new issues,” Sen. Ngige said.
