BREAKING: Labour calls off strike

– NLC calls off strike after several deliberations

–  The president of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba says the decision to call off the strike came after an emergency meeting of the NEC The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday, May 22, called off its nationwide strike.

Speaking to journalists, the president of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba said the union is calling off the strike after several deliberations. Wabba said the decision to call off the strike came after an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council of the NLC.

“After an exhaustive deliberation, NEC noted its protest action was informed by the twin issues of the unjustified and illegal hike in electricity tariff and increase in the pump price of petroleum products,” Wabba said.

He also said the council adjudged that the strike action is a success in spite of both internal and external challenges the union faced during the period. “In consideration of the above, NEC after due consultation with its constituents resolved to suspend with immediate effect, the action it commenced on Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

The action is thus hereby suspended,” he said. He commended all those who participated in the action, stating that the union is committed to genuine dialogue within the framework of internationally established  and recognized principles of representation with it and the Nigerian government.’

He insisted that the action was taken in the best interest of the poor and the weak, pointing out that the action drew government’s attention to the dangers of relying on importation of petroleum products as a sustainable strategy for making available petroleum products, expressing the belief time would prove its position right in the days ahead.

While commending some concerned Nigerians for intervening, Wabba said NEC urged the government to play by the rules in its engagement with its constituent unions, interest groups and non-state actors as proof of its commitment to deepening democracy in the country.

He however condemned the activities of the security operatives especially the police in Ebonyi state. Also present at the briefing include, renowned activist and lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN). The labour unions had embarked on an industrial action on Wednesday, May 18, to force the federal government to revert to the pump price of petrol from N145 to its former price of N86.50.

However, the strike lasted just three days as workers largely ignored its directive to stop work.

Naij.com