Enugu workers suspend strike

Enugu workers suspend strike
Cyril Okonkwo, Enugu

The three-week-old industrial action embarked upon by organised labour in Enugu State, South East Nigeria, to protest the non-implementation of the new minimum wage in the state has been suspended.

The State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress,  Chuma Pius Nze, told Voice of Nigeria that the strike was suspended following the intervention of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Rt. Reverend Callistus Onaga, the Bishop of the Anglican Communion in Enugu, Rt. Reverend Emmanuel Chukwuma and traditional rulers.

A communiqué jointly signed by the religious leaders, representatives of the workers and state government officials also said the strike was suspended for twenty one days after due consultations with the national leadership of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.

The communiqué directed workers in the state to resume work on Tuesday and wait for further directives. .

``We call on them to go back to work as from Tuesday as issues are being addressed and they should await further directives as we go on’’, the communiqué declared,

Way forward

It also stated that “ all matters relating to the labour dispute in the state, including the court case and non victimisation of workers, will be looked into by the elders and traditional rulers under the auspices of the Catholic and Anglican Bishops of Enugu.’’

The Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, and Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, signed the communiqué along with some traditional rulers.

The Special Adviser to the Enugu State Governor on Labour, Mr Ifeanyi Odoziobodo, and the executive members of the labour unions in the state also signed.
The NLC chairman appealed to the religious leaders in the state to assist in conveying the message to workers through their sermons in their various churches.

Ekata/Iheanacho