Breaking: Organised Labour Suspends Strike

The two labour centres in the country,  Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress  have suspended their industrial action.The leaders of the two Labour centres attribute the decision to suspend the strike to the intervention by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu on Wednesday.The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) had called on the organized labor to call off its ongoing strike. The Head, Strategic Communication Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari U Mijinyawa, said in a statement on Wednesday that the ONSA had commenced investigation into the assault on the NLC President.Mijinyawa, said that some suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.He said that the ONSA is concerned about the decision of the organized labour to go on strike with massive implications on the citizenry.He stressed that the NSA condemns the attack on the NLC President which is a violation of the rule of law and the principle of freedom of association as emphasized by the Tinubu administration.He stressed further that the NSA is disturbed by the implications of the strike on the livelihood of Nigerians and indeed the nation’s economy.The statement added that the Federal Government, through the Office of the NSA, called on the organized labour to  call off the strike for dialogue to commence.The full statement reads:“The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is concerned by the declaration of a nationwide strike by the leadership of the Organised Labour led by the NLC and TUC. The NSA is particularly worried about the implications of the  strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic  national interests. As attested by the NLC leadership, the NSA immediately intervened on learning about the travails of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC),  Comrade Joseph Ajero who was assaulted in Owerri, Imo State. The NSA regrets  the incident and condemns  it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and  expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration. The Federal Government will never condone such an act. As a fallout of the incident relevant authorities were directed to conduct thorough investigation into the circumstances sorrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits. Available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded. The Federal Government, through the Office of the NSA, therefore appeals to the labour leadership to call off the current strike action and allow the dialogue process underway to be exhausted .