FG Pleads With NLC to Suspend Planned Warning Strike

The Federal Government has pleaded with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to suspend its planned two-day warning strike slated for Tuesday, September 5 and Wednesday, September 6.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, who made the appeal on Monday, begged for more time to resolve all the pending issues raised by the labour union.
He said though the ministry is yet to receive a notification of the planned strike by the NLC as required by law, that the ministry will hold talks with the labour leaders by 3 pm today (Monday).
This is with a view to stop the planned strike, which he believed would reverse the gains already recorded by the present APC-led administration.
Lalong assured that he would never downplay the efforts made by the labour and Nigerian workers to sustain the economy, adding that the Federal Government had already initiated some programmes to reduce the hardship accompanied by subsidy removal.
The minister promised that the administration would continue to pursue policies aimed at massive employment generation in all sectors of the economy, while dissecting the challenges that arose from government policies.
He was optimistic that the issues cannot be addressed in an atmosphere laced with industrial actions.
Lalong said: “It has become pertinent to appeal to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to suspend its intended two-day warning strike, as such action would be detrimental to the gains already being recorded on our course to securing a greater future for Nigerian workers and citizens at large.
“Furthermore, I would request that the Comrade Leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress gives this government some time to settle and address the issues on the ground holistically.
“It should be realised that the cabinet of this administration was only recently sworn in by Mr. President and all cabinet members have hit the ground running by receiving briefings from their MDAs. Therefore, the issues raised by the leadership of the NLC are some issues that I and the Hon. Minister of State for Labour and Employment are being briefed upon. In the next few weeks, we intend to address them holistically.”