…as Tinubu adopts alternating interface strategy
Organised Labour has suspended its indefinite nationwide strike which kicked off Tuesday and saw banks, federal and state parastals, as well as public schools and other establishments shut down altogether, or working in fits and starts, for two days.
The labour unions’ leadership said the strike was to protest the assault on Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) president, Joe Ajaero in Owerri, penultimate week, as well in response to the Federal Government’s failure to duly put agreed buffers in place to relieve Nigerians of the some of the economic hardship arising from the removal of the subsidy on petrol and the free float of the naira by President Tinubu on ascending office.
The decision to call off the strike was reached reached at a meeting between executives of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Wednesday, which deliberated on the outcome of an earlier interface with the Federal Government led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, confirmed the suspension on Wednesday evening.
Organised labour said it has received a commitment from the Ribadu-led meeting that those arrested for the physical assault on NLC President, Joe Ajaero, would be prosecuted.
The NSA promised to bring both parties back to the table to iron out all issues in dispute, tendering an unreserved apology on behalf of the Federal Government for the assault on Ajaero and other labour officials.
Labour watchers observe the Tinubu administration’s alternating interface strategy in negotiating with Labour over the months and note that it appears to be gaining some traction.
They say that the strategy involves replacing government functionaries or groups who have been involved in inconclusive or stalemated meetings with labour, with fresh faces, to avoid an overhang of negative emotions or bad blood, which could dampen fresh talks.
Over the past months, Simon Lalong, minister for labour and employment, Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, Adams Oshiomole, ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) member, who is a former labour leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president, as well as President Tinubu himself, have interfaced with Labour in crisis management moves.
Members of the House of Representatives under their then leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, had also met with Organised Labour last September, in an effort to stem off an impending strike.
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives adjourned plenary over the ongoing strike by Nigerian labour unions to enable the leadership and members to take steps towards ending the strike.
The adjournment came shortly after the consideration and adoption of a motion of “Matters of Urgent Public Importance”, moved by Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker of the House, at resumed plenary.
