Ngige urges NLC to shelve planned warning strike

From ODIMMEGWA JOHNPETER, Abuja

THE Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Nwabueze Ngige has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to rescind its plan warning strike over the new electricity tariff in the overall interest of the nation, and as an earnest of the commitment of the organized labour to the supremacy of the rule of law which the Buhari led Federal Government has amply demonstrated.

“The dispute over the increment in electricity tariff is right before the National Assembly and it is only right that as law abiding social partners that all parties afford the National Assembly to arbitrate. The Chairman of NLC is not here but this occasion offers a crucial avenue for me to state government’s position on this hot button issue.”

The Minister advised investors in the power sector to provide decent working environment for their staff members as his Ministry will no longer tolerate unfair labour practices, urging workers to give their utmost in promotion of productivity

Sen. Ngige made the appeal in Abuja today in his goodwill message at the 3rd Triennial National Delegates Conference of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC).

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Speaking further, the Minister urged the Association to be committed to a productive change and the inculcation of sanity in the conduct of government business and hoped that the change mantra would instill discipline in the entire citizenry of Nigeria and promotes transparency, accountability and other good governance principles.

He stressed that the dialectical relationship between capital and labour should be played down and minimized in order to enable a viable environment for sustainable development and growth of the nation devoid of industrial actions.

Sen. Ngige said “In tandem with the theme of your conference this year, I must state that the Federal Government is concerned with good governance in all sectors of the economy and the subsequent expansion of the infrastructural and super-structural base of the Nigerian economy and this could be achieved by the Labour Movement ensuring industrial peace in the world of work through social dialogue with Social Partners.”

The Minister reiterated the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to provide level playing ground for Trade Unions in Nigeria, and emphasised that Government would endeavour at all times to ensure the protection and Promotion of the welfare of workers as a productive force to reckon with in course of economic production.