The Confederation of All Progressives Congress Support Groups has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress to shelve its planned nationwide strike.

The Director-General of the group, Dr Kailani Muhammed, made the appeal in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

Mr Muhammed said that such action was capable of disrupting the entire fabrics of the economy and socio-democratic processes of the country.

Recall that the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, was arrested by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday and the union threatened to embark on strike if its demands weren’t met. The state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had also accused Ajaero of meddling in the state’s political affairs. 

Mr Muhammed, speaking through the statement, said, “We are using this forum to passionately appeal to the NLC; the umbrella body of the Nigerian workers, to shelve its planned strike after the physical assault on the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State. We believe that the NLC knows the consequences of the planned strike fully well, more than anybody else.’’

He said that the planned strike would have devastating effect on the nation

According to him, it may derail and stampede the Nigerians economy and create unnecessary chaos and halt economic activities in the country.

“The common man on the street that the NLC protects will be more negatively impacted. This is because the already high cost of goods and services will soar to unimaginable proportions. This is deadly because they cannot be bought down with the change of situations. As we all know, prices do not ever come down in Nigeria once they go up.

“It is in view of the above submissions that we are making this appeal, firstly as concerned citizens and more importantly, as true democrats, whose main focus is the well-being of the Nigerian nation,” he said.

According to him, NLC should immediately remove any planned strike on its agenda to solve any issue that may have been raised between the union and the Imo State Government.

“Rather, it should engage the Imo State Government at a roundtable for an amicable solution, instead of using aggressive methods that will worsen situations, ’’’he said. 

(NAN)