BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Federal government on Tuesday night resolved to wade into the national strike and picketing in Kaduna State by the two Labour Centres.
It therefore appealed to the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba as well as President of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Khadiri Olaleye to immediately cease fire.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, who made the position of the Federal Government known in a statement by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry, Charles Akpan, explained that the government at the centre is not unaware of what is going on in Kaduna State.
According to Ngige; “It is a labour issue which has snowballed into a national strike and picketing by the two labour centres and affiliate unions .
“We hope and also pray the Kaduna state Governor not to escalate matters to such a level where it becomes uncontrollable.
“We also appeal to the leaders of the labour centres to step down action to make way for discussion. My Ministry is wading into the matter and therefore calls on the two warring parties to give peace a chance”.
Ngige also appealed to all workers on essential duties including doctors and nurses not to join the strike, saying; “importantly, I appeal to workers in critical sectors not to tamper with electrical or water installations so as not to bring more sufferings to the people of Kaduna and the nation at large.
“This is because we have it on good authority, following a complaints by the Minster of Power that workers have threatened to trigger a nation-wide blackout by interfering or switching off the national grid.”
