Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, has revealed that electricity workers in the country are threatening to switch off the national grid over the ongoing face-off between the Kaduna State government and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
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Ngige said this in a statement released by Charles Akpan, Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
He appealed to the NLC to call off the strike in Kaduna and give room for dialogue.
The NLC commenced a five-day warning strike in the state on Monday, which has paralysed economic activities.
The state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday, declared NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, wanted for economic sabotage.
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Nigige, in the statement, disclosed that said his ministry is wading into the issue.
He warned the Kaduna state government not to escalate the matter to the point that the issue “becomes uncontrollable”.
“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,” he said.
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“We hope and also pray the Kaduna state Governor not to escalate matters to such a level where it becomes uncontrollable. We also appeal to the leaders of the labour centres to step down the action to make way for discussion.
“My Ministry is wading into the matter and therefore calls on the two warring parties to give peace a chance.
“Importantly, I appeal to workers in critical sectors not to tamper with electrical or water installations so as not to bring more sufferings to the people of Kaduna and the nation at large.
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“This is because we have it on good authority, following a complaint by the Minister of Power that workers have threatened to trigger a nation-wide blackout by interfering or switching off the national grid.”
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