The Federal Government of Nigeria has made an earnest appeal to construction workers in the country, urging them to set aside their plans for a nationwide warning strike. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, conveyed the plea during a gathering in Abuja on Wednesday, convened to address the ongoing dispute between the workers and their employers.
The construction workers, who are affiliated with the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) and the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA), had previously threatened a nationwide strike last week if their demands were not met. Their grievances revolved around the alleged refusal of their employers, the Construction and Civil Engineering Employers Association of Nigeria (CCEEAN), to implement a wage award for workers in the construction industry.
The N35,000 wage award was part of an agreement reached between the Federal Government and the organized labor to alleviate the impact of subsidy removal. Minister Onyejeocha urged the workers to postpone the planned warning strike and allow the resolution of the dispute through dialogue. She expressed her regret that the workers did not attend the conciliation meeting to which they were invited, emphasizing that rejecting government intervention and refusing to engage in dialogue was not the appropriate approach to the ongoing dispute.
Furthermore, the minister emphasized that while the government is committed to fulfilling its promises to the people, it seeks support from all Nigerians, particularly in maintaining industrial peace and harmony. She called on the employers to continue engaging with the workers, assuring that the government would persist in urging them to heed reason and refrain from embarking on a strike.
During the meeting, Vincent Barrah, President of the Construction and Civil Engineering Employers Association, stated that the welfare of the workers had always been a top priority for the association. He highlighted that the association had been conducting wage reviews every two years and had not ceased in providing welfare based on prevailing circumstances. Barrah also pointed out that the association had increased transport allowances to mitigate the effects of the recent economic downturn in the country and clarified to their workers that the wage award was intended for federal government employees.
Barrah noted, “The workers had refused to cooperate in resolving the current issues through internal mechanisms.” The government has called for dialogue and peaceful resolution to the dispute, maintaining its position that cooperation and engagement are crucial in achieving amicable outcomes.
