Relief for Nigerians as Labour suspends strike
• Buhari gets report today • Panic buying in Lagos, others • Govt woos ASUU to negotiation table
From Collins Olayinka, Terhemba Daka, Nkechi Onyedika-ugoeze, Anthony Otaru, Matthew Ogune, Kanayo Umeh (Abuja), Muyiwa Adeyemi, Sunday Agboluaje (Ibadan) and Iyabo Lawal (Lagos)
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government yesterday succeeded in averting what could have been a complete lockdown of the economy over disagreement on mini- mum wage for workers. The protracted negotiation between government and the workers’ representatives saved the day, leading to suspension of a nationwide strike that would have begun at midnight today. At 10.30 p.m, there were unconfirmed reports indicating that airport workers union had already announced stoppage of international flights.
Led by the NLC President Ayuba Wabba, the organized Labour had insisted on a N30,000 minimum wage for workers in the country as against government’s N24,000.
But Ayuba last night announced a suspension of the proposed action after the workers got what looked like a concession from the government team led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha. Although Wabba could not divulge the agreed amount, he said the work of the tripartite committee had been concluded and that the report would be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari at 4.15 pm today (Tuesday).
Asked to disclose the amount agreed upon by the tripartite committee, Wab-
goods from the port to alternative terminals.
In a statement at the end of its meeting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, yesterday, the forum reiterated its commitment to regional integration as a key to sustainable development in western Nigeria. The statement, read by the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government Biodun Oyebamibi (who represented Governor Kayode Fayemi), urged the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) commission to initiate processes to tackle decline in critical sectors in the region.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and his Ondo State counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu were absent from the meeting and were not represented.
Lagos State governor, Akinwumi Ambode, was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Idiat Adebule. The Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, was also represented by his deputy, Moses Adeyemo.
The forum said the recent report by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) on out-of-school children in Nigeria should be addressed properly. It urged the Odu’a Investment Group to champion food security in the region. The forum also asked the DAWN commission to engage institutions and development partners in accessing soil features in the region to boost agriculture.
“A realistic balance be- tween governance, competing local interests and profitability must be of utmost consideration in factoring Odu’a Investment Group’s presence in states. Regional integration as a model for sustainable development is in the enlightened interest of Western Nigeria and the people should eschew divisive elements and actions,” the forum said.
The host, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola urged the forum to show greater commitment to re- gional integration. He said this was key to creating a formidable front to enhance development.
He re-echoed calls for restructuring of the country and urged member states to remove barriers to quick development. His deputy, Titi Laoye Tomori, urged the forum to use agriculture as a means to engaging youths and women in the region.
President Muhammadu Buhari meanwhile restated his administration’s commitment to developing the country’s transport and power infrastructure.
He spoke when he received members of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) led by their president, Oladapo Fafowora.
Buhari, according to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, told the retired ambassadors that Nigerians will never forget the “lost opportunity between 1999 and 2015,” when the nation had huge resources at its disposal. He said: “There is no part of the country I haven’t been to, having attempted to be president four times. I know the condition of our roads. The rails were literally killed. There was no power despite the admittance by some previous leadership that they spent $16 billion on the sector.
“Today, we are getting our priorities right and we believe that of the three fundamental issues we campaigned on – security, the economy and fighting corruption - we have remained very relevant and Nigerians believe we have achieved something.”
Buhari also used the occasion to appreciate the People’s Republic of China for financing some of the rail and power projects in the country through concessionary loans. “I will do my best to see that where there are possibilities of making a quick improvement on infrastructure, we will do it,” he said.
The president took note of some concerns raised by the retired ambassadors including an appeal for the adjustment of their pension entitlements, retention of diplomatic passport for retired career ambassadors, allocation of land for ARCAN headquarters in Abuja and adequate funding of the foreign affairs ministry.