The meeting between the Government, the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC), and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is about to bring an end to the untold hardship Nigerians have faced recently.
The CBN delegation led by its governor, Godwin Emefiele and the NLC leadership led by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaeo, met with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Monday evening.
The meeting was concerning a planned nationwide strike and protest.
Before the meeting, the NLC directed all its chapters across the country to mobilise for a protest at all the branches of the CBN.
They wanted to picket the apex bank over the scarcity of Naira that has brought untold hardship to Nigerians.
No More Strike
However, speaking with journalists during the weekly Ministerial Briefing at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday, Ngige said there will be no more strike.
According to Ngige, his ministry coordinated the meeting between the CBN and the NLC.
He says the apex bank would take urgent steps to remedy the situation.
The minister said as at the moment, the issue to be discussed by NLC in its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting would no longer be issues of protest.
He says the issue had already been apprehended.
Review Of Situation
“Now they have all answered our calls because we are the Chief Conciliators.
“In my opening remark, I said I’ve noticed that there’s already a dialogue going on and there’s also implementation,” Ngige said.
On the response of the NLC and the next line of action, the minister informed journalists that the Nigerian Labour Congress agreed that there was some thawing at the surface of the icing.
“They said they will call up their National Executive Council meeting because the initial decision to give that ultimatum was given by this same Council.
“Members of the Council reside in the states and in the local governments. So, they will come up today, which is Tuesday, the 28th, to review the situation.
“This is because, much as it is, the important thing is that we have emphasised to them that we have apprehended this dispute.
“By Section 7:8 of Trade Dispute Act, once the Minister apprehends and starts conciliation on it, you maintain status quo ante bellum.
“So, they have gone back now to review the situation.
“If they’re not satisfied with what they’re seeing, they will come back to me and I’ll invite the CBN again.
Issue Of Discussion (Implementation)
“But for now, the issue of discussion is no longer strike, the issue of discussion is implementation and how far it’s gone and how far it affects Nigerian workers and the general population.
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“So that is it, the final decision will be done today by NEC and they will then do a resolution, of course, inform me and CBN what their resolution is.
“But like I said, we have apprehended and we are now conciliating,” the minister emphasised.
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Also, Ngige told reporters that the issue of increment for workers was being addressed by the government.
According to him, the main thing now is the quantum of the salary increase.
He also said that the amount to be paid depends on the availability of funds and the ability to pay.
