Federal Govt Invites NLC, Kaduna For Talks Over Strike

The Federal Government has invited NLC, Kaduna for talks over strike, The Nation report.

The Federal Government has invited the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Kaduna government for discussion to end the ongoing industrial dispute in the state.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, invited Governor Nasir el-Rufai and top officials of the State as well as the President of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and other labour leaders to an emergency conciliation meeting tomorrow on Thursday.

A statement by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Charles Akpan stated the meeting will hold at the Minister’s office.

According to the statement, Ngige asked both sides to maintain the status quo ante pending the resolution of the issues in contention.

The letter separately addressed to the Governor and 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.”

The letter added: “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.”

NLC and its affiliates on Monday commenced a five – day warning strike to protest the sack of workers by the Kaduna state government and other alleged anti – labour practices.

The strike, which has entered the third day, crippled economic activities in the state, leading to el-Rufai declaring Wabba and other labour leaders wanted for their roles in the on-going strike.