The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Ministry of Steel Development have set up a 12-man committee to look into the implementation of judgment over the unlawful dismissal of Victor Ekpaha, an accountant.

This is contained in a resolution reached at the end of a meeting between the NLC and the ministry on Thursday in Abuja.

The resolution was signed by Chris Isokpunwu, the permanent secretary and John Madaki, acting director of legal services in the ministry, as well as Eche Asuzu, acting head of industrial relations at NLC, and Stephen Knobayi, NLC chairman, FCT Council.

Mr Ekpaha, an accountant with the National Metallurgical Training Institute Onitsha, an agency under the ministry, was unlawfully dismissed in 2005 without payments and entitlements.

The NLC had earlier picketed the ministry over the unlawful sack of Mr Ekpaha.

The resolution also includes an appeal to the NLC to vacate the picketing of the ministry’s premises over the enforcement of the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

According to the resolution, both parties agreed that a 12-man committee should be constituted to look into the issue.

“That is, five members will be drawn from the NLC and five members from the Ministry of Steel Development, while two members will be drawn from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“That the NLC should expeditiously nominate five members to form the committee to be co-chaired by a member from the NLC and the ministry.

“That the committee shall conclude its deliberations within 14 working days from the 14th day of April 2025,” the resolution read.

(NAN)