Adegboyega Adefarati, the chairman, House committee on labour, employment and productivity has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve its proposed nationwide strike billed for Wednesday. 

He made the appeal on Monday.

Mr Adefarati said rather than the NLC mobilising workers to shut down and paralyse all government institutions, the union should continue negotiating with the federal government.

“Workers should look into the option of negotiation and dialogue rather than protest. A stable industrial and harmonious relationship is sine quo non to development. So, we are appealing to them to shelve the idea and wait for the outcome of the meeting. I believe that it will be a win-win situation for the country, even for the workers.

“My appeal to organised labour is for them to shelve the planned protest slated for August 2nd. This is a new administration and I can assure you that Mr President (Bola Tinubu) belongs to the progressive group. He has set up a committee headed by the Chief of Staff and they have been meeting and interacting with the workers,” he told journalists in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

The appeal came after the union, last week, issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu-led FG to reverse all anti-poor policies of the present administration or face an indefinite strike action starting from Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

The labour union had highlighted issues to be addressed by the government as the hike in the price of petrol, the immediate inauguration of the presidential steering committee, an increase in public school fees, the release of the eight-month withheld salary of university lecturers and workers and an increase in value-added tax (VAT), among several demands.

Mr Adefarati, however, expressed concern over the negative impact the strike would cost the government and its implication on the Nigerian masses.

He said President Tinubu was more worried about what Nigerians pass through since the increment in the price of petrol occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy.

While assuring the public that the House of Representatives would continue to address the pertinent issues raised by the labour leaders, Mr Adefarati also appealed to the National Association of Residents Doctors (NARD) to immediately call off its strike by considering the plight of Nigerians who need medical attention.

He pleaded that the striking doctors should reconsider the need to balance their approach by putting members of the public first when seeking their welfare.

“It is better to dialogue and negotiate than protest because, at the end of the day, it won’t do anybody any good. By going on strike, it means the problems being faced by the people are further compounded.

“What we all should be concerned about is the way forward with the necessary solutions and not condemnation all the way.”

He assured that the House of Representatives would make sure whatever agreement was reached with the federal government and the organised labour was given speedy approval.

“We are ready and any agreement reached will be given swift and prompt action by the House. Like the issue of the palliative bill. When the bill of N500 billion was brought to the House, it was given speedy approval because we are there to serve our people,” Mr Adefarati said.

The NLC had directed all its affiliates, state councils and civil society organisations to mobilise workers ahead of Wednesday for a long-lasting strike and mass protests should the government fail to accede to its demands.

In a communique, jointly signed by Joe Ajaero, NLC president and Emmanuel Ugboaja, the general secretary and issued at the end of the union’s national executive council (NEC), the NLC had insisted that there must be a reversal of policies by Mr Tinubu’s government which has resulted in “mass sufferings and deprivation across the nation”.