The Federal Government plans to get the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) bank on the negotiating table after the end of the two-day warning strike.
Director of Press and Public Relations in the Labour and Employment Ministry, Olajide Oshundun, who confirmed the planned resumption of talks, said the government will wait for the workers protest to end.
The strike called by the NLC took off on a shaky note, recording partial success in some states. It partially failed in others. It was shunned by civil servants in some states.
But the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance with the strike.
Oshundun said: “I am not aware of any meeting between NLC and the minister. Since they have commenced the warning strike, we will allow them (NLC) to finish the two – day strike then an overture will be made to the NLC leadership.”
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong could not be reached for comments.
But a member of the NLC National Working Committee (NWC) told our correspondent that the NLC would be ready to open talks with the federal government at the end of the two – day warning strike.
The source said: “We will complete the two – day warning strike then resume discussion with the government if the government is ready to talk we will come.
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“After this warning strike, the government should ensure that it calls a meeting to ensure that all the issues are resolved. People want to see things on the ground, not on radio and newspapers. Our people are suffering.”
The Labour leader said services would be restored tomorrow at the end of the warning strike.
Last Friday, the NLC declared its intention to stage a two-day warning strike in preparation for a total shutdown of the economy in 21 days.
The NLC announced its decision to go strike at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) in the early hours of September 1.
A communiqué released by the NLC and jointly signed by its National President, Joe Ajaero and Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, said the decision followed the “failure of the Tinubu-led Federal Government to dialogue and engage stakeholders within the organised labour on efforts to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol on the poor masses.”
Appraising the strike, Ajaero said it recorded a “resounding success across the nation.”
In a statement, Ajaero said: “This is to applaud all Nigerian workers through the actions of all our affiliates and state councils for the massive support and efforts at ensuring that the first day of the nationwide warning strike took off with a resounding success across the nation.
“You have all demonstrated that your words and decisions will always be backed by action. This has resonated in every part of the country today and we are sure that the message has been sent to those who doubt our determination to push through with our objectives.
‘We are glad to inform you that all of our objectives for the first day were fully met because of the high level of compliance experienced as a result of your collective efforts around the federation.
“Congress salutes you all for your commitment towards ensuring that the reasons for the warning strike were fulfilled at this time.
“We, however, urge you all to continue with the same zeal and determination which saw the huge success that was recorded today as we move to the second and final day of the nationwide strike to ensure a complete success of the entire exercise.
“While thanking all Nigerian workers and indeed the masses for their understanding as we go through this trying time, we call for more efforts of the kind you showed today and urge all of us to join hands to ensure that all loopholes observed during today’s action are plugged so that tomorrow’s action will be a total success.
“It is our civic duty to ensure that we are governed effectively and that those in government remain accountable to the people at all times! We are committed to that and with your continued support, our nation will surely become a better place for all of us.”