The Nigeria Labour Congress has suspended the indefinite strike embarked by the Abia State chapter of the union over the non-payment of salary arrears and implementation of agreement reached with the Abia State Government.
The Assistant General Secretary of the union, Mr Chris Onyeka, announced the suspension of the strike three days after it started shortly after a meeting with the state government on Friday.
He said that the Union and government representatives had an exhaustive, comprehensive and extensive deliberations on issues concerning workers welfare in the state.
Onyeka pointed out that the union’s decision to suspend the strike stemmed from a renewed commitment of the state government to promote workers’ welfare and her quick intervention to resolve the issues raised by the striking workers.
He revealed that although there were varying degrees of issues raised by workers in the state, he was optimistic that the state government was committed to ensuring a more worker-friendly environment as work returned to normalcy in the state with industrial peace restored.
He said, “A more committed and productive workforce is only possible where a government takes the issues of workers welfare seriously.
“Workers are human beings and we frowned at the inhuman treatment meted out on workers in Abia State, it is unacceptable by us as a union.
“We call on the state government to ensure that all the agreement to promote workers welfare are implementation to the later, if they want us to extend our hands of fellowship to the state government.
Earlier, the governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu, said Abia remained a worker-friendly state and would never take workers welfare for granted as it was committed to ensuring the best for them.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chris Ezem, said his administration was taking steps to resolve all the crises as it was resolute to implement all agreements reached.
He assured workers in the state that the government took their welfare seriously and would continue to do so, while urging them to keep hope alive.
He thanked the NLC for showing understanding and vowed that the government would live up to her expectations, while urging them to keep their faith with the government.
SOURCE: THE PUNCH
