Strike: Senate Calls Emergency Meeting With NLC, TUC

The Nigerian Senate has called for an emergency meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the ongoing indefinite nationwide strike.

The planned emergency meeting with the union leaders was to find a solution to the nationwide strike that has disrupted activities in the country, including the National Assembly in the last two days.

At the National Assembly, even though lawmakers were allowed access to their chambers by the members of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), journalists and others were not given access to the National a
Assembly complex for several hours.

However, the Senate, during plenary on Wednesday, urged the NLC, TUC, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other affiliate unions, who joined the strike, to end the action immediately in the national interest and in adherence to the rule of law.

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LEADERSHIP reports that Nigeria’s labour unions commenced an indefinite strike action on Tuesday, November 14, following the alleged assault and brutalisation of the president of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, during a planned workers’ protest in Imo State on November 1.

The Senate expressed concerns over the nationwide strike, which has crippled activities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and in the National Assembly, following a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Bamidele Opeyemi, during plenary on Wednesday.

Bamidele urged the NLC and its affiliate unions to reconsider their current stand on the ongoing industrial action in overriding public interest and in the spirit of patriotism and adherence to the rule of law.

During the debate, Bamidele expressed worry that most of the demands of the NLC were not targeted towards the welfare of workers but essentially arising from the alleged political involvement of the president of the NLC in partisan politics in his native Imo State.

He called for an emergency meeting to address the grievances of the organised labour.

Senator Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central senatorial district, added that the Senate needed to intervene to stop further escalation of the matter. He decried that a lot of activities have been paralyzed, and lawmakers were finding it difficult to access the National Assembly complex, and their aides were denied entry.

Adams Oshiomhole, the Senator representing Edo North, also expressed concerns about the way and manner Police manage workers’ protests. He urged the federal government to implement the agreement reached with the labour unions and urged states to implement the N35,000 wage increase.

In his submission, Ali Ndume, Senator representing Borno South, stated that ordinary Nigerians should not suffer for the maltreatment of one person.

For his part, Senate President Godswill Akpabio urged the striking unions to end the strike no matter their grievances. He directed the Clerk of the Senate to put a date immediately and contact the labour unions for an emergency meeting with the Senate.