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Strike: Presidency, NASS meet to resolve labour unions concerns
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Sunday to resolve the concerns of labour unions in the country.
Also in attendance at the meeting which held at Aguda House, the residence of the Vice President was the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
Labour unions are billed to commence a nationwide strike on Monday, 28 September 2020 following the increment in the pump price of petrol and a review of electricity tariff by the Nigerian government.
But the Presidency and National Assembly are making frantic effort to ensure that the economy doesn’t shut down following the adverse effect the coronavirus pandemic and dwindling oil prices has had on the economy.
Shortly after the meeting, Speaker Gbajabiamila shared images of the meeting and noted that they were working to avert the strike.
“After my meeting with Labour, I met with the Vice President and the SGF. We had fruitful discussions and I am hopeful tomorrow’s strike will be averted,” he wrote.
After my meeting with Labour I met with the VP and SGF. We had fruitful discussions and I am hopeful tomorrow’s strike will be averted. pic.twitter.com/DjC8aINTsU
— Femi Gbajabiamila (@femigbaja) September 27, 2020
It would be recalled that Speaker Gbajabiamila had earlier met with leaders of the labour unions before proceeding to meet with the Vice President.
At the meeting is a three-man team from labour consisting President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba; President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Quadri Olaleye and NLC Secretary General, Emma Ugboaja.
During the meeting, the Speaker explained why labour unions should not go on strike in the interest of Nigerians.
Gbajabiamila, who was at the meeting with Chairman of the House Committee on Labour, Mohammed Wudil and Deputy House Leader, Peter Akpatason, said shutting down economic activities through a debilitating strike will hurt more citizens the organised labour is seeking to protect.
He said there could be a different way to arrive at the same result as the legislature and labour unions are on the same page, pleading for more time.
