The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to rescind its decision to embark on a warning strike over the new electricity tariff in the overall interest of the nation
Ngige made the call in Abuja on Thursday in a goodwill message at the 3rd Triennial National Delegates Conference of the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC).
“The dispute over the increment in electricity tariff is right before the National Assembly and it is only right that as law abiding social partners that all parties afford the National Assembly to arbitrate. The Chairman of NLC is not here but this occasion offers a crucial avenue for me to state government’s position on this hot button issue,” he said,
The Minister advised investors in the power sector to provide decent working environment for their staff members, saying that the Ministry of Labour and Employment would not tolerate unfair labour practices.
The Minister also urged the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies to be committed to a productive change and inculcate sanity in the conduct of government business.
He said the dialectical relationship between capital and labour should be played down and minimized in order to enable a viable environment for sustainable development and growth of the nation devoid of industrial actions.
The Minister reiterated government’s commitment to provide level playing ground for trade unions and associations to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.
He said government would endeavour to ensure constant protection and promotion of welfare of workers as a productive force to reckon with in the course of economic production.
He said government has resolved to ensure provision of regular electricity to Nigerians at an affordable rate.
In his remarks, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said government was doing everything possible to improve power supply, and assured Nigerians that the worrisome situation of electricity instability would soon become a thing of the past.