The Organised labour, yesterday refused to shift grounds, insisting the Federal Government must meet its demands to avert future strikes, as a meeting between the parties ended in deadlock.
The meeting, which was convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, failed to address the issues raised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Briefing the journalists after the meeting, Lalong expressed optimism that although no agreements were reached with the workers representatives, most of the concerns raised will be resolved before the deadline.
He said: “I fully acknowledge and appreciate the invaluable role the NLC plays in championing for the rights and welfare of our workers.
“Your dedication and tireless advocacy have been critical in shaping a fair and inclusive work environment and ensuring the wellbeing of our workforce.
“We acknowledge the valid grievances that have fueled the recent labour crisis, and we are committed to addressing them in a just and equitable manner.
“We must also recognize the economic realities that confront us. As we address the concerns of our workforce, we must be mindful of striking a balance that promotes economic growth and secures sustainable progress for our nation.
“Today, I call upon each one of you to join hands in an open-minded and constructive dialogue, enabling us to bridge any gaps that may exist between the interests of workers and the ultimate goal of driving economic advancement.
“In the spirit of unity and with utmost commitment to the betterment of our nation, let us seize this opportunity to listen and understand one another.
“Together, let us explore innovative approaches, reimagining strategies that enhance working conditions and worker benefits while nurturing a robust economy.”
There is the issue of CNG, refineries working, wage award and cash transfer. Of all these agreements, not even one has been addressed by the government and you want us to meet every day.
Government is indifferent
However, unimpressed by the Minister’s plea, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, noted that despite two warning strikes, the government has not resolved any of the issues raised by the organized labour.
Ajaero said: “We came with mixed feelings whether it would work or not because we have had many meetings, some beyond this level, yet nothing seems to be coming out of it. But I have great optimism in the Nigerian project; we can’t stop trying,” he said.
“We are here with that belief that something may happen. But that doubt, that trust gap is what we feared for a long time now and it calls for lamentation.
“The strike is an effect of a policy that doesn’t have a human face. There was no strike before the removal of the fuel subsidy. It was the government that said ask for palliatives, ask for wages and we have asked for it. That warning strike was a product of frustration, up till this moment.”
He continued: “There is the issue of CNG, refineries working, wage award and cash transfer. Of all these agreements, not even one has been addressed by the government and you want us to meet every day.
“Some of us have been around for a long time and our job is not to go on strike but when you enter into an agreement that agreement should be implemented. Before the warning strike, we raised the issues of palliatives and wage awards and the NURTW.
“Nobody earning N30,000 or N60,000 will buy fuel for one week. We need to find solutions to all these problems, and we have articulated them. Each time we finish they ask for time.
“They asked for eight weeks, which we gave them. They asked for four weeks, which we gave them. We don’t know what to tell our colleagues or members again. We hope that at the end of this meeting, we will have something to tell our members. This is a neck-breaking meeting,”
He also touched on the crisis in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), in which he accused the Nigerian Police of plotting and executing “a coup against the NURTW, which had led to the sidelining of the democratically elected leadership of the union.
“This is one sore area that the Nigerian Trade Union is not ready to compromise is that coup must be condemned, whether it is in Niger, whether it’s in Congo, whether it’s in Mali or whether it’s in the trade Union movement in Nigeria,”
Ajaero further clarified: “In the ultimatum we gave and in the NEC resolution, the issue of NURTW was clearly stated and it was at the time the issue has not degenerated the way it is now. That was why we had to bring it along with other issues.
“On the other issues you can see that there was no agreement on any, there is no CNG anywhere and refineries are not working, neither is there gas.
“Nothing has been done on the issue of wage award and cash transfer or the ASUU issues. However, we believe that between now and the next few days, when the ultimatum expires, something will happen.”
He equally warned that based on the ultimatum issued by the Congress, if no progress was made before the expiration of the deadline, an indefinite strike would commence.
