Senate moves to gag labour, condemns shutdown of national grid

The Senate has frowned at what it described as ‘some excessive actions’ taken by members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) during the now suspended nationwide strike for a new minimum wage.

It specifically declared that the shutdown of the national grid was more of economic sabotage than an agitation for a new minimum wage. It also decried the disruption of Hajj flights, reports Daily Sun.

It consequently declared that such a situation would not be allowed to re-occur, as laws against it would be reflected in the new National Minimum Wage Act that would be enacted soon after submission of a bill to that effect by the executive.

Senate’s exceptions to the alleged excesses of the labour unionists came to the fore through a motion sponsored by the Chairman, Committee on Labour, Diket Plang (APC Plateau Central).

He had, in the motion, requested the Senate to call on the federal government to expedite action on the new minimum wage as a way of stopping the industrial unrest, which was, however, overtaken by sudden suspension of the strike by labour.

In his contribution, Orji Uzor Kalu, recommended N90,000 as minimum wage, and urged the Senate to engage separately with the Federal Government and the unions to resolve the lingering impasse.

Kalu described the shutdown of the power grid as ‘a daring move,’ saying it could take four days to bring it back.

“Let us send a Senate delegation to the federal government and the organised labour with the proposal of N90,000, and all the parties should agree to that.

“Pulling down the national grid, Mr. President, is not an easy job, and it might take up to three to four days for it to come up. The Federal Government and the organised labour should be cautioned to come to an agreement. Though it is going to be difficult for the private sector to pay, they must manage.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said though it was heartwarming that the strike had been suspended, excesses made by some labour unionists need to be frowned at.

He said: “One of such excesses was the shut down of the national grid, which is more of an economic sabotage than agitation for a new minimum wage.

“Disruption of hajj flight by some other labour unionists as said by the Senate deputy president, is also not palatable being a religious exercise .

“Also, disruption or prevention of students from writing their West African Senior School Certificate Examination by some labour unionists during the strike was bad because the examination is not organised by Nigeria but by West African countries.”

He added that such actions would not be allowed to be repeated as the required laws against them would be reflected in the new National Minimum Wage Bill expected from the executive very soon. He, however, commended the labour unions for suspending the strike

“I want to thank the NLC and the TUC for listening to the voice of Nigerians, and the international community by suspending the strike to enable negotiations to continue, and we wish them well in the negotiations.

“On our part, we will continue to do our best by making contributions, and at the same time awaiting the incoming Bill on Minimum Wage for us to enact for the benefit of all Nigerians,” he said.

The House of Representatives wing of the National Assembly, however, remained deserted as most of the offices were locked, with only a few sergeant-at-arms, and journalists around.

Earlier, in the day, members of the House, alongside senior management staff, had converged for the day’s plenary. However, they dispersed a few minutes later.

Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi Jnr, told our correspondent, in a telephone chat that the plenary could not hold due to concerns over quorum. The House requires 120 members, which is one-third of the entire membership of the Green Chamber, to form a quorum.

“The speaker actually came to parliament and was on stand by for the plenary to hold. Leadership was on ground. The senior administrative staff were on ground. But, there were concerns about forming a quorum because members had gone for constituency outings all over the country, and most of them have not been able to come back. You know the Speaker is always particular about playing by the book.”