*’We need time to address all grievances’
*’Minimum wage will receive attention’
By our correspondent
Ahead the warning strike action planned by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, for Wednesday and Thursday, the Federal Government has appealed to Labour to suspend the two-day warning strike, promising to address the demands.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Monday said that although the ministry was yet to get a notification of the planned strike as required by law from the NLC, the ministry would however meet with the labour leaders by 3 p.m. on Monday (yesterday), with a hope to cancel the planned strike.
The minister promised never to take labour and Nigerian workers for granted, stressing that the Federal Government has already initiated some actions to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal and was willing to find solution to the challenges confronting Nigerians as a result of its policies.:
According to Lalong, “It has become pertinent to appeal to the leadership of the 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 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 Minister of State for Labour and Employment are being briefed upon. In the next few weeks, we intend to address them holistically.
“Consequently, I use this opportunity to reassure Nigerian workers that this government would never take them for granted nor fail to appreciate their support and understanding.
“We shall continue to pursue policies aimed at massive employment generation in all sectors of the economy as well as look into immediate challenges that have emerged out of the policies of government. We cannot do this in an atmosphere devoid of industrial peace.”
He said the issue of minimum wage will be addressed holistically.
