TheCable

The federal government has, once again, approved the use of Eagle Square for the May Day parade.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had accused the government of blocking the use of the facility for the Workers Day celebration despite initially giving approval.

Consequently, NLC had said the celebration would be held on the streets of Abuja.

Reacting to the development, Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, said Mohammed Bello, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), blamed “overzealous officials” of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) for the withdrawal of approval.

Olajide Oshundun, FCT director of press and public relations, quoted Bello as saying the FCDA officials acted without his authority.

“On receiving the report, the Minister contacted his colleague, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Bello, who blamed the development on some overzealous officials, acting without his authority, as well as a minor communication gap between the FCDA, the Federal Government Transition Committee and the NLC,” he said.

“It was actually the contractor handling the renovation of the Eagle Square that informed the Transition Committee for the handover ceremony that they erected their equipment even before last Thursday when the Nigerian Army used the venue for an event attended by the President.”

‘ALL INVITED GUESTS SHOULD MAKE THEMSELVES AVAILABLE’

Ngige said the NLC belongs to everyone and urged all invited guests to make themselves available for the celebration at Eagle Square.

“This May Day is the last in the life of this administration. The NLC parade belongs to everybody, including government, diplomatic missions, international organisations, organised labour and affiliate unions and members of the public. The President, Ministers and others cannot shut themselves out. The Eagle Square is still available for all these individuals,” the minister said.

“All invited people should make themselves available for the parade at Eagle Square, most especially the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the diplomatic missions and the international partners.

“The Minister of Labour and Employment has been in touch with the leadership of organised Labour led by Comrade Joe Ajaero and has briefed them on these developments and equally extended the apologies of the Minister of FCT for the unintended embarrassment occasioned by the action of their officials who misinterpreted the general intention and work plan of one month of Messrs Julius Berger the company in charge of the renovation of the Eagle Square for the May29 inauguration to also include the May 1, 2023.”

Ngige said the FCT administration has promised to give all necessary material support to make the event hitch-free and successful.