Senate urges labour unions to call off industrial action 

***Invites NLC, TUC leaders for emergency meeting 

The Senate yesterday pleaded with the organised labour to call off the ongoing strike prompted by the assault and brutality metted on the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, in Imo State. 

The Red Chamber also asked the National Assembly leadership to immediately summon an emergency meeting with the labour leaders to address the issue.  

The resolutions came after a motion by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi) during Wednesday’s plenary.  

NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had embarked on a nationwide strike on Tuesday in protest against the alleged attack Ajaero in Imo State on November 1.   

Official activities in many states and the FCT were grounded as workers joined in the strike action. 

The labour action had also taken its toll on the National Assembly as lawmakers, workers and journalists had a herculean task in effort to access the complex Tuesday and wednesday

In the motion, which was presented by Senate Leader, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, the Bauchi lawmaker condemned the attack on Ajaero, describing it as unfortunate.  

He said the NLC president had the constitutional rights, as a Nigerian and Imo citizen, to be involved in the electioneering in the state, and that it was wrong to brutalised him for participating in the process.  

He said, “The Senate is aware that the strike which has commenced since 14th of November 2023 is not unconnected with the alleged assault on the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress during the electioneering campaign that took place in Imo State. 

“The Senate worries that most of the demands of the NLC are not targeted towards just the welfare of the Nigerian workers but essentially targeted most essentially at issues arising from the alleged political involvement of the President of the NLC, who also is an indigene and also have a right to a part of the campaign process in Imo State.” 

The lawmaker said it was found that, as a matter fact, there was indeed assault on the President of the NLC freely participating political campaign process of Imo as a citizen of the state. 

He expressed worry that if the strike was allowed to continue, Nigerians would be the worst for it and it could lead to a total collapse of the economy