Stephen Ukandu, News & Features Editor
The Organised Labour comprising the Nigeria labour Congress, NLC; and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, have suspended the nationwide indefinite strike embarked it declared Monday midnight to protest the November 1 assault on the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State.
Ikengaonline had Wednesday night, reported that the strike could be suspended any time soon after a parley between Labour and the Federal Government at the office of the National Security Adviser to the President.
The leadership of the two Labour Unions later held an emergency Executive meeting Wednesday night where the decision to suspend the strike was reached.
According to a source privy to the decision at the emergency joint National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the leaders of the two labour centres in Abuja, the suspension was to pave the way for more negotiations on issues that led to the industrial action.
The source said that the positive outcome of the earlier meeting between the Federal Government and Labour leaders facilitated the suspension.
Confirming the suspension, President of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Festus Osifo said it was based on the arrest of Ajaero’s attackers.
“We came here for a discussion. The NSA invited us in furtherance of a press release he issued disclosing that some persons have been arrested in connection with the brutality meted out on the NLC President.
”At the end of the day, he made several promises of what they are going to do and several appeals for the strike to be called off.
“We had a robust conversation and we told him our side of the issues. The strike was caused by something and the strike is a symptom of the problem. Every conversation we have had, we are taking back to our organs.
“The NSA promised to coordinate all the steps and issues involved. We will go back, reappraise the conversations we have had, with all the assurances they have given us, before coming out with a decision.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Simon Lalong, said Government and Labour leaders had fruitful discussion and would continue to engage until all the issues raised were fully resolved.
