The Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, urged the Nigeria Labour Congress to consider ongoing negotiations on the recently introduced electricity tariffs before embarking on a nationwide strike.
The labour union had on Wednesday threatened to declare a one-day nationwide strike against the government in protest of electricity tariff hike and fuel scarcity across the country.
Dr Ngige, however, noted that such an action would be unnecessary because the National Assembly had already taken up the issue and were working to resolve it.
The minister pleaded with the labour movement to exercise patience with its planned industrial action.
He said, “The dispute over the increment in electricity tariff is right before the National Assembly and it is only right that as law abiding social partners, that all parties afford the National Assembly to arbitrate.
“The chairman (president) of the NLC is not here, but this occasion offers a crucial avenue for me to state the government’s position on this hot button issue. In tandem with the theme of your conference this year, I must state that the Federal Government is concerned with good governance in all sectors of the economy and the subsequent expansion of the infrastructural and super-structural base of the Nigerian economy.”
He then went on to say “You are therefore called upon to support the government in its efforts to reposition and expand the power sector in Nigeria for effectiveness. Every bit of support from each one of you is worthwhile.”
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