TheCable

Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment, has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to call off the strike in Kaduna.

The NLC embarked on a five-day warning strike on Monday to protest the disengagement of 4,000 workers across the state.

However, the Kaduna government had said the decision was taken because the huge wage bill wasn’t sustainable for the state.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Charles Akpan, his spokesman, Ngige said he has received information that workers in the power sector want to trigger a nationwide blackout in solidarity with their colleagues in Kaduna state.

According to NAN, the minister, however, appealed for calm and understanding on all sides.

“This is because we have it on good authority, following complaints by the Minster of Power that workers have threatened to trigger a nationwide blackout by interfering or switching off the national grid,” Ngige said.

Ngige, who said the federal government will wade into the matter, urged the workers to give room for dialogue.

“We are not unaware of what is going on in Kaduna state. It is a labour issue which has snowballed into a national strike and picketing by the two labour centres and affiliate unions,” the statement reads.

“We hope and also urge the Kaduna state governor not to escalate matters to such a level where it becomes uncontrollable. We also appeal to leaders of the labour centres to step down action to make way for discussion.

“My ministry is wading into the matter and therefore calls on the warring parties to give peace a chance.”

He also appealed to all workers on essential duties not to join the strike.