By Christiana Ekpa
Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has appreciated the agreement reached by the Federal government and the Organized Labour which led the suspense of the planned industrial strike action, saying it saved the nation from going into economic shocks.
He said that dialogue and reasoning prevailed.
Kalu’s appreciation was contained in his opening remarks at Tuesday plenary session which he presided.
The Deputy Speaker also commended the federal government for accepting to vote N100 billion for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for mass transit and 55,000 kits to kick start auto gas conversion programme amongst other issues.
Kalu who also felicitated Nigerians on 63rd Independence anniversary celebrations of Nigeria as well the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen on his 58th birthday also revealed the readiness of the Legislature to synergize with the Executive towards optimizing the country’s oil production quota of 1.8 million barrels per day.
He said: “I wish to felicitate with the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Federal Government on the agreement to call off the strike. It shows that we have come to the age of reason, where dialogue and comprise work for our collective prosperity.
“I wish to commend major stakeholders who played major roles to ensure that this was achieved. It’s for our collective good. It’s the determination to find common ground for the interest of our economy and our people.
“Our economy cannot afford to take further shocks and if Labour had gone on with this strike, it would’ve given us a great shock as a nation.
“The Federal Government’s acceptance to vote N100 billion for CNG buses for mass transit and 55,000 kits to kick start auto gas conversion programme and other efforts, is the way to go and the conversation we should be encouraging in this House, as members of parliament, although we are three arms of government we are one government.
“It signifies the President’s willingness to engage in productive sector of the economy.
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