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Ngige Speaks On Kaduna Labour Crisis

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige has finally reacted to the five-day warning strike by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Kaduna State over the sack of over 7,000 government workers.

Ngige in a statement by the Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan said;

“We are not unaware of what is going on in Kaduna State. It is a labour issue which has snowballed into a national strike and picketing by the two labour centres and affiliate unions.”

“We hope and also pray the Kaduna State Governor not to escalate matters to such a level where it becomes uncontrollable. We also appeal to the leaders of the labour centres to step down the action to make way for discussion.”

“My Ministry is wading into the matter and therefore calls on the two warring parties to give peace a chance.”

“Importantly, I appeal to workers in critical sectors not to tamper with electrical or water installations so as not to bring more sufferings to the people of Kaduna and the nation at large.”

“This is because we have it on good authority, following a complaint by the Minister of Power that workers have threatened to trigger a nation-wide blackout by interfering or switching off the national grid.”

For those who don’t know, the ongoing Labour strike in Kaduna has led to a face-off between the organized labour and the Kaduna State Government which has led to Governor El-Rufai declaring the labour union leaders wanted in the state for economic sabotage.

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