Suspended strike: NLC writes Imo governor to call for conclusion on discussion meeting, or face another industrial action

By AKOR SYLVESTER- Abuja

The organised labour has called on the Governor of IMO State, Hope Uzodimma to invite the union for a meeting to conclude the industrial dispute discussion between the state branch of the union and the government or face another round of strike.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had commenced discussion with the Governor on the industrial dispute between their members and the state government before the governorship election, with the hope to conclude the matter immediately after the election, but that is yet to happen.

But in a statement jointly signed by the NLC secretary general, Emma ugbuaja, and the TUC secretary general Nuhu Toro, in Abuja yesterday, the organised labour demanded for urgent meeting with the Governor.

“We bring you fraternal greetings from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

“Sequel to a letter dated 22nd March 2023 by the Imo State Council of the NLC, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) write to demand from the Imo State Government a definite date for the conclusive resolution of the industrial dispute in Imo State.

“Your Excellency may recall that owing to interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and the Congress patriotic disposition not to jeopardize the rights of Ndi Imo to exercise their civic duties during the March 18, 2023, House of Assembly election, the last industrial action in Imo State was suspended.

“Our expectation is that the Imo State Government would reciprocate our goodwill by scheduling and communicating a date for the conclusion of discussion towards the resolution of the industrial dispute in Imo State.

“Well, this is two weeks since the State House of Assembly election. We are yet to hear from the Imo State Government of a date to conclude bilateral discussion which had already considered all the issues of dispute and extracted commitments from the Imo State Government pending the formal signing of a fresh collective bargaining Arising from the decision of a Joint National Executive Council meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, we demand that Your Excellency should communicate to the leadership of the two national labour centres a definite date for the conclusion of the bilateral industrial discussion and the signing of a collective bargaining agreement with the Imo State Government.

“We also wish to convey the resolution of the NEC of the NLC and TUC that failure to expeditiously schedule and communicate the date for the conclusion of the industrial discussion and signing of an agreement would force Organized Labour in Nigeria to re-activate the suspended industrial action in Imo State without any further notice.

“While we look forward to Your Excellency’s earliest consideration, please accept the renewed assurances of our warm regards”,.