Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha has commended the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other members of the organised labour for suspending the strike earlier planned to commence yesterday.
Leading a motion on the floor of the House yesterday, Ihedioha congratulated the Speaker, Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for leading the lower legislative chambers to avert the proposed industrial action, and said.
He also commended his colleagues for backing the motion for the House to intervene in the matter, and averred that their efforts have yielded positive results that all members should be proud of.
The deputy speaker commended the Senate for showing understanding and support for the truce initiative spearheaded by the House that contributed to the suspension of the strike, noting that the gesture from the Senate indicated a new era of harmonious working relationship between both chambers of the legislature.
It would be recalled that following the 3-day warning strike threat announced by NLC and its affiliates, the House of Representatives had adopted a motion last Wednesday, mandating its leadership to engage the organised labour, the minister of Labour and Productivity and other relevant agencies of government in a dialogue as part of efforts to avert the strike action. Accordingly, the House leadership led by the Speaker immediately swung into action by meeting with all parties involved at the office of the Speaker.
Describing labour’s resolve to suspend the proposed strike as patriotic, Ihedioha commended the Federal Government’s team led by the secretary to the government of the federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and the minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, the Governors’ Forum led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Governor Adams Oshiomhole as well as other stakeholders involved in mediating over the impasse.
The deputy speaker however urged all concerned parties to respect agreements mutually entered into in order to avert any industrial unrest that could endanger the country’s fragile economy, and urged that all hands be on deck to move the country forward at all times.