President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, has urged employers of labour in public and private institutions to adhere to international and national labour laws to avoid industrial disharmony.
Wabba made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja at a crucial meeting called by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige to discuss with the leaders of the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The NLC on Tuesday threatened to embark on nationwide protest against the recent killing of two workers in Nasarawa State by security agents.
It also planned to protest against the Imo Government new employment policy.
“It is imperative for every employer of labour to have a grasp of the international and national labour laws in order to appropriately apply it in addressing labour issues.
“Nigeria has labour experts across the 36 states of the federation including the FCT who these employers can easily have access to for necessary information as it concerns wage and labour issues,’’ he said.
Wabba explained that when employers of labour adhere to the labour laws, it would restore industrial harmony and forestall breakdown of law and order.
The NLC president said that labour had agreed to postpone all issues of industrial protest in Nasarawa state to give room for dialogue and reconciliation by the ministry.
“Labour is open to dialogue; we also believe in due process in resolving the matter. But I want to say that there is limit to our patience.
“The matter on ground is already five weeks old and I do not know how much time we need to wait for the workers that were killed to get their justice, ‘’he said.
Wabba however, commended the minister for his intervention, saying that labour was ready to collaborate with the ministry to ensure that the matter was amicably settled.
In his remarks, Ngige appealed to labour to suspend the proposed picketing of government offices and demonstrations nationwide for the good of workers and the country.
He apologised to the NLC for the absence of officials of Nasarawa state government at the meeting, saying there was communication gap between the ministry and the government.
He called on state governors not to reduce the remunerations and hours of work without proper negotiation on any issue that would affect the salaries and wages of workers.
“We must reconvene this meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 30, so that all parties will be available to fashion out the way forward in restoring peace and harmony in the state, ‘’he said.
The deputy President of the TUC, Mr August Etafor, commended the minister for his intervention and assured him that the labour was open to the reconciliation meeting.
He said that the issue that led to the death of the two workers was avoidable, stressing that the perpetrators should be prosecuted.
“I hope that the end of this dialogue will bring succour to the families of the workers that were killed, ‘’he said.
