Kaduna labour crisis: FG moves to broker truce, says lnformation Minister

A truce is being brokered between the Organized Labour and the hardliner Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai on the face-off between them over the ongoing five-day warning in the state.

Persecondnews recalls that the strike being led by the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), began on Monday to pressure adamant governor to reinstate over 4,000 council workers sacked in April on grounds of “redundancy”.

El-Rufai had declared NLC President, Ayuba Wabba wanted, offering a reward for anyone who can volunteer information that will lead to his arrest.

He also announced the sacking of university lecturers and nurses who joined the strike.

However, Lagos lawyer, Mr Femi Falana had said that El-Rufai had no such powers under the constitution to declare anyone wanted.

Breaking the cheering news is the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the federal government was “working to end the labour crisis” which has engulfed Kaduna State.

According to him, steps are being taken to prevent a breakdown of law and order nationwide.

Mohammed spoke to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the federal government was “concerned about the turn of events in Kaduna State” and that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, was already making moves to achieve a truce between the two sides.

Mohammed told reporters:”The federal government is not folding its arms and already the Minister of Labour and Employment has waded in and is in touch with both the government of Kaduna State and also the Labour.

“In addition, the security apparatus all over the country have also taken pre-emptive measures to ensure that hoodlums don’t take advantage of this situation.

“In particular, I know that the police has reinforced its patrol between Kaduna and Abuja, so that we do not witness kidnappers taking advantage of the situation.

“Overall, I think the federal government is quite concerned and is doing its best to see how the two parties can resolve their misunderstandings amicably with little loss to productivity, little loss to properties.

“At the end of the day, all the parties have to come back to the drawing table to agree and hammer out concessions and agreements.”

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