Planned Strike: NGF holds discussions with labour

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi has met with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in a bid to avert a nationwide strike over recent increases in electricity tariffs as well as the price of petrol.

A statement issued by the Head, Media and Public Affairs of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, titled “Final Communique,” confirmed the development.

The statement said, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Nigeria Labour Congress are on the path to resolving the impasse occasioned by the threat by workers to embark on industrial action if the Federal Government does not rescind the recent decisions to increase the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit and Electricity Tariff in the country.

“This is the outcome of an early morning dialogue between representatives of the Forum and workers which took place at the residence of the Chairman of the NGF, in Abuja, early on Saturday.’’

“The NGF Chairman said, no one that is conversant with the prevailing situation in the country would disagree with labour and its demands, as it were, but pleaded that Governors be given time to consult more broadly with the various stakeholders, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, the vice president and the president. This he said would be top priority for the NGF and promised to head straight to the presidency once the meeting was over.”

The statement said that during Saturday’s meeting, the Ekiti State Governor spoke for the NGF while the NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba who was accompanied by the TUC President Quadri Olaleye and the NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboajah, spoke on behalf of organised labour. The Director-General of the NGF, Mr. Asishana Okauru, was also at the meeting.

‘’Fayemi explained that Governors decided to wade into the on-going negotiations with a view to broadening consultations and assisting to bring the impasse to an end, thus averting the impending strike action,’’said the statement.

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It added that Fayemi pleaded with the NLC that the timing of the action was inauspicious and could aggravate an already worsening situation if not averted.

‘’The NGF chairman emphasized that the plight of workers in the country was already unbearable and that any action embarked upon by the union at this time would further worsen their situation as was highlighted in the communique issued by governors after their first emergency meeting on Thursday, 24th September, 2020, since the outbreak of the pandemic and eventual lockdown of the country, last March.’’