The National Economic Council (NEC) has hinted that President Bola Tinubu’s Independence Day speech will address the concerns and grievances of the organised labour.
This comes on the heels of the Nigerian Labour Congress’s proposed Nationwide indefinite strike, billed to commence on October 3.
Addressing State House correspondents after the NEC meeting at the Presidential Villa, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, appealed for more time to enable the federal government to address all their concerns.
“Council noted the notice by the national leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress to proceed on an indefinite strike from October 3, 2023.
“Council noted further the implication of this strike on the economy and the nation and thus urge members to continue to engage with the leadership of their respective states and also appeal to them to shelve the action and continue the path of them with the federal government.
“NEC actually expressed genuine concern about the situation in the country and appreciates the concern by Labour to have those issues addressed.
“That is why NEC is appealing for patients, is appealing for time to be able to address the concerns of labour. We also believe that Mr. President will be addressing the nation on the first of October, and some of the concerns of Labour will be appropriately addressed in the President’s speech,” Mutfwang stated.
Speaking further, he said that it was important for the organised labour to decentralise the dialogue to the state level, noting that there will be peculiarities as to the issues to be addressed concerning the demands of labour.
“So whatever happens, labour is represented in all the thirty six states, and FCT and NEC is appealing that discussion continue at the state levels because there will be peculiarities as to the issues to be addressed concerning the demands of labour and therefore dialogue is the way to go.
“The nation is at a very critical moment at this time. Some of the states, when they took over on May 29, the workers were on strike. Some of those issues have just been resolved for the workers to return to work and to ask them to go back immediately. It’s going to further damage the economy.
“Therefore, while NEC is expressing genuine concerns about the situation in the country, appeals for calm and patience. I want to believe that the leadership across the nation, at this point in time, wants to truly address the issues that concern the Labour and the general populace and move the country forward,” he said.
