In a plea to maintain industrial harmony and preserve the progress achieved so far, the Federal Government has called upon the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to reconsider its two-day warning strike.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, appealed in Abuja on Monday, emphasising the potentially adverse consequences and the risk of undermining the government's ongoing efforts.
Minister Lalong urged the NLC to exercise patience and allow the government time to delve into the issues raised by the union comprehensively. He stated, "It has become pertinent to appeal to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (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, he acknowledged being briefed on the concerns raised by the NLC leadership and affirmed the government's commitment to address these concerns holistically in the coming weeks.
Minister Lalong reassured the Nigerian workforce of the government's unwavering commitment to their welfare and prosperity, emphasising that it could only fulfil this commitment in an atmosphere free from industrial unrest. He said, "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 and look into the immediate challenges that have emerged from the government's policies. We cannot do this in an atmosphere devoid of industrial peace."
Notably, the minister acknowledged that the ministry had not received formal notification of the impending strike from the NLC, as required by law. However, he indicated that a meeting was scheduled with labour leaders on Monday afternoon to engage in constructive dialogue and explore ways to avert the strike.
