Kaduna: NLC Suspends Strike as FG Wades in

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its five-day warning strike in Kaduna State.

Announcing the suspension on Wednesday, the NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said the decision was to honour the invitation of the federal government on Thursday to mediate in the dispute between labour and the Kaduna State Government.

This came after the central government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Chris Ngige, intervened in the ongoing face-off between the Kaduna State government and labour unions by inviting both parties to a reconciliation meeting.

The meeting scheduled to hold at the Ministry of Labour and Employment in the Federal Secretariat, Abuja is to be attended by the Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir El Rufai and top officials of the state; as well as the NLC leaders.

Mr Ngige had directed the two parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the issues in contention.

“I am, therefore, constrained in the exercise of my powers as the Minister of Labour and Employment, under the Trade Disputes Act, CAP. T8, Laws of Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004; to invite you and your top officials to the emergency trade dispute conciliation meeting,” he said.

The national government’s intervention comes three days after the NLC started a protest following the disengagement of over 7,000 civil servants at the state and local governments by the Kaduna State government.

The strike had shut down critical sectors of the economy in the state. All commercial banks, transporters, traders, petrol stations attendants and others withdrew their services in solidarity.

Some major parts of Kaduna experienced a total blackout of electricity due to the strike while flights have also been grounded with hospitals, schools and other working sectors following suit.

This propelled the state government to declare the NLC boss and other leaders wanted for economic sabotage and attacks on public infrastructure in Kaduna State under the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

He also placed an undisclosed bounty on the NLC executives.

“Anyone that knows where he is hiding should send a message to MOJ (Ministry of Justice) Kaduna. There will be a handsome reward,” Mr El-Rufai tweeted.