Strike: Senate summons emergency meeting with labour leaders

The Senate on Wednesday resolved to immediately summon an emergency meeting with labour leaders to address the ongoing nationwide strike by the organised labour comprising Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The Red Chamber specifically urged the unions to call off the strike occasioned by the assault on NLC President, Joe Ajaero, on November 1, in Imo State.

The resolutions followed a motion by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) during plenary on the industrial action which has grounded many official activities across the country.

In the motion, which was presented by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Bauchi lawmaker condemned the attack on Ajaero, describing it as unfortunate.

According to him, the NLC president has the constitutional rights, as a Nigerian and Imo citizen, to be involved in the electioneering in the state, and that it was wrong to brutalise him for participating in the process.

He said: “The Senate is aware that the strike which has commenced since 14th of November 2023 is not unconnected with the assault on the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress during the electioneering campaign that took place in Imo State.

“The Senate worries that most of the demands of the NLC are not targeted towards just the welfare of the Nigerian workers but essentially targeted most essentially at issues arising from the alleged political involvement of the President of the NLC, who also is an indigene and also has a right to be a part of the campaign process in Imo State.”

The lawmaker said it was found that, as a matter of fact, there was indeed assault on the President of the NLC freely who was participating in the political campaign process of Imo as a citizen of the state.

He expressed worry that if the strike is allowed to continue, Nigerians would be the worst for it and it could lead to a total collapse of the economy.

Some of the senators in their contributions, including Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) and Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), condemned the attack on the NLC president, but added that the entire country should not continue to suffer for alleged offence committed in one state.