The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has met with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over their planned strike which is scheduled to commence on Monday.
The meeting held at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja is an attempt to mediate and broker an amicable solution to the impasse between Organised Labour and the Federal Government over the increase in electricity tariff and the removal of petrol subsidy.
The speaker in a last minute ditch appealed to labour to suspend the planned strike, saying embarking on industrial action at this critical time would not augur well for the citizenry.
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He said the House of Representatives shares the same thoughts and philosophy with the NLC as regards the plight of workers and the House of Reps championed the cause of free electricity and had advised that the hike in tariff be put in effect from 2021.
Nevertheless, the Speaker said he worries about the consequences of the strike and what will be achieved at the end.
You know, you cannot go on strike at this time, if you go on strike, the people you think you are protecting will be at the receiving end, we share your philosophy regarding workers’ rights.
Responding, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba argued that the increase in electricity tariff and removal of petrol subsidy is bringing hardship on Nigerians and the union is asking the FG to reverse these policy decisions.
According to Mr Wabba, it is in a bid to get the government to change its recent hike policy that the protest on Monday has been scheduled.
After the first deliberations, the Speaker and NLC representatives went into a closed-door meeting, where the Labour has insisted that it will continue with its planned strike unless the govt makes a u-turn before 12 midnight today.
