November 15, (THEWILL) -The Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives, on Wednesday, appealed to members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other affiliate unions, to consider national interest and suspend the ongoing nationwide strike.
Adopting motions moved separately at the two Chambers of the National Assembly during plenary on Wednesday, the lawmakers called for an emergency meeting with the leadership of Labour with a view to resolving the crisis.
The motions came on the heels of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), shutting down all the gates leading into the National Assembly complex, Abuja, in compliance with the directive of the Labour movement.
THEWILL reports that organised labour, on Tuesday, commenced an indefinite strike to protest the assault and brutalisation of NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, Imo State.
At the Red Chamber, a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Bamisele Opeyemi, urged the NLC and its affiliate unions to reconsider their current stand on the ongoing industrial action in overriding public interest and in the spirit of patriotism and adherence to the rule of law.
On his part, Senator Adamu Aliero, who lamented that a lot of activities have been paralysed, and lawmakers were finding it difficult to access the National Assembly complex, and their aides were denied entry, urged the Senate needed to intervene to stop further escalation of the strike.
Adams Oshiomhole, the Senator representing Edo North, also expressed concerns about the way and manner Police manage workers’ protests.
He urged the federal government to implement the agreement reached with the labour unions and urged states to implement the N35,000 wage increase.
Adopting the resolutions, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, urged Labour to end the strike no matter their grievances.
He directed the Clerk of the Senate to immediately contact the labour unions for an emergency meeting with the Senate.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives also resolved to collaborate with their Senate counterparts in an attempt to bring an end to the ongoing nationwide strike.
The decision followed the adoption of a motion of ‘Urgent National Importance’, moved at plenary by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
In his lead debate, Kalu urged the NLC to have faith in the parliament and agree to a dialogue.
He said, “If you go to our legislative agenda which we unveiled yesterday, on Page 10, Mr Speaker, the mission statement of your administration which I’m gladly a part of, states, ‘Nigeria faces numerous challenges across various sectors and legislative interventions are crucial for addressing these issues and driving positive change.
“The next paragraph states: ‘Critically as People’s Representatives, we recognise that Nigerians and our constituents have the right to know what issues are being addressed and what priorities their elected representatives focus on. This transparency enhances public trust and accountability.
“Accordingly, we have dubbed the 10th House the People’s House. Mr Speaker this is the People’s House, dubbed by you and I and all the leaders of this Assembly.
“You went on to say that this Agenda seeks to foster meaningful public engagement and encourage citizens and stakeholders to participate in debates, hearings and consultation related to the identified priorities.
“Mr Speaker, based on these references made to your documented mission statement and your commitment you made to Nigerians the day we emerged to lead the 10th Assembly, it will be unworthy of us to feign ignorance of what’s happening in our country at the moment.
“Today, we were called early in the morning not to come for sitting, that the rooms are going to be locked and those that put on lights will not be there.
“But on a second call, I was told that you braved it and said we cannot engage our People from our home, we will engage them when we sit together and I commend you Mr Speaker. That your decision to step into the National Assembly motivated a whole lot of us to come to the Parliament.
“We came because there’s a burning issue in Nigeria with the NLC, who had threatened yesterday about going on a massive national strike, it will be unworthy of us to leave this House today without looking into this issue.
“I pray that the National Labour Congress, NLC and all the Unions in Nigeria that they should trust us once again. That we will use diplomacy where necessary to engage as usual. They should trust us again to come together to find lasting solutions for their pain. We can dialogue, I pray for the House leadership and that of the Senate to sit with this aggrieved NLC, as soon as possible to enable us to find a lasting solution to their needs.”
Several lawmakers lamented the hardship caused to Nigerians by the ongoing strike, appealing to Organised Labour to call the two-day-old strike off.
In his ruling, the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, who presided over the session assured that the House leadership would proceed on a meeting with the Senate with a view to ensure that urgent steps are taken to end the impasse.
