The Senate has called on organised labour to call off the ongoing strike in the interest of Nigerians.

The Senate also summoned an immediate emergency meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other labour unions to find amicable solutions.

Senate resolutions followed the adoption of a motion on the need for the NLC to reconsider its stand on the ongoing strike at plenary on Wednesday.

The motion was sponsored by Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti). Mr Bamidele, in his lead debate, said NLC, TUC, Academic Staff Union of Universities, and Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, among other unions, had commenced a nationwide strike on November 14.

He said the Senate was aware that the strike was connected with the alleged assault and brutality of the NLC president during the electioneering campaign that took place in Imo.

He said it was a matter of concern that most of the demands of the NLC for the current strike were not targeted towards the welfare of Nigerian workers but essentially arising from the alleged political involvement of the NLC president, a citizen of Imo.

He said the Senate was also aware of the establishment of the Police Service Commission, a body in charge of the promotion and discipline of police officers, including the police commissioner of Imo.

He added that the commissioner had affirmed that there was indeed brutality by the police against the NLC president while participating in the political campaign process as a citizen of Imo.

Adamu Alero (PDP-Kebbi), who seconded the motion, said the Senate must intervene to protect the nation’s economy. He said the intervention of the Senate would be timely and that the incident in Imo involving the alleged brutality of the NLC president in Imo was unfortunate.

On his part, Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo) said his primary concern had always been labour issues and condemned police brutality on labour members.

He added that he had been a victim of police brutality as an NLC leader.

He said the Senate was obligated to do everything possible to find an amicable solution to the current labour issues.

He urged the Senate to prevail on the federal and state governments to implement the agreement reached with NLC and TUC, especially prevailing on state governments to pay the N35,000 wage award.

(NAN)