EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
The member representing Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ben Etanabene has urged the federal government to be proactive with labour unions in the country.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Hon Etanabene said this during a plenary session of the House on Wednesday while contributing to a motion sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, the member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State.
Recall workers commenced a nationwide strike on Tuesday to protest against the alleged brutalization of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in Imo State. The industrial action has grounded operations in most public facilities, leaving Nigerians stranded.
Etanabene averred that if the government had been proactive enough, the strike could have been avoided, stressing that if the government had entered into the matter prior to this time, the disturbing strike would not have held.
“The government was not proactive at all in spite of the fact that they have experienced former labour personnel in the helms of government. When labour unions shout that they want to do something, it is better to interact with them early enough.
“If for nothing, just for ego, they will go on that strike. This is just one of them. If the government had entered into this matter prior to this period, we would not have this disturbing strike. This issue as I see it should not have led us to this point,” he said.
While urging the House to intervene and ensure dialogue with labour, Etanabene stressed the only palliative he believes that will work is returning the price of petrol to what it was before the removal of subsidy.
Meanwhile, Hon Kalu, had while moving the motion, said it would be “unworthy” for lawmakers to feign ignorance of the strike and “pretend” as if it does not concern them. Kalu revealed Wednesday’s plenary was almost cancelled due to the strike because lawmakers were informed that their offices would be under lock and key.
“I want to pray that the NLC and all the unions in Nigeria should trust us (lawmakers) once again. That we (lawmakers) will use diplomacy where necessary to engage as usual. They should trust us again to come together to find a lasting solution to their pain.
“I pray that your office (speaker) and that of the senate (senate president) dialogue with this aggrieved NLC as soon as possible to enable us to find a lasting solution to this hydra-headed need,” Kalu said.
Also speaking, Kingsley Chinda, the House Minority Leader, supported the motion, saying the strike is a “strong instrument” which should not be abused.
“Strike to me is the extreme of every action. There must be steps that should be taken before the strike so that we don’t begin to trivialise labour strike,” Chinda said.
He asked labour unions to shield their swords and allow national assembly leadership to wade into the matter and “bring it to a conclusion”.
Julius Ihonvbere, Majority Leader, corroborated Chinda’s position, noting that there should be consultation and other avenues explored before a strike is used as a last resort.
“This one (strike) came with the speed of light. This cannot happen in a country that wants to recover. It is not evidence of patriotism, commitment to social justice and liberation of people from poverty and hunger, marginalisation and dehumanisation which the government is committed to,” Ihonvbere said
Yusuf Gagdi, Chairman of the Committee on Navy in his contributing, said he was “flabbergasted” when he saw the reason the union embarked on strike.
“This should not be the basis of suffocating government activities. It should not be the basis of shutting down Nigeria,” Gagdi said
Subsequently, the leadership of the House resolved to meet with its counterpart in the Senate to engage the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for the “immediate” suspension of the strike.
TNG reports the plenary was presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.