Organised Labour, comprising members of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, resolved after their joint Extraordinary NEC meetings on Wednesday to call off the nationwide strike action after two days of grounding the administrative structure and the economy. It was a big relief for the nation due to the biting effect of the strike.

The strike action was, however, more intensive on the second day as many more workers and their unions joined the strike action. Many offices were placed under lock and key with workers going round to ensure that the strike was complied with by workers.

The President of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Festus Osifo confirmed the suspension of the strike action, though all their demands have not been met. He disclosed this a couple of hours after organised labour had a meeting with the federal government. The federal government was led at the meeting by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The National Security Adviser appealed to Labour leaders to suspend their strike action with assurances that all the issues raised will be looked into and addressed.

The organised labour said it has received a commitment from Mallam Nuhu Ribadu that those arrested for the brutalisation of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero would be prosecuted. He also apologised to Labour on behalf of the federal government.

Both chambers of the National Assembly also devoted quality time discussing the nationwide strike action with an appeal to Labour to allow them to wade into the matter while labour suspends their strike action.

But, it was the intervention of the national Security Adviser that yielded the shift in position by organised labour. A statement from the office of the NSA shed more light on the intervention saved the day.

Attackers of NLC president Ajaero arrested, says NSA Nuhu Ribadu

“The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is concerned by the declaration of a nationwide strike by the leadership of the Organized Labour led by the NLC and TUC.

“The NSA is particularly worried about the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.

“As attested by the NLC leadership, the NSA immediately intervened on learning about the travails of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joseph Ajero who was assaulted in Owerri, Imo State.

“The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.

“The Federal Government will never condone such an act.

“As a fallout of the incident relevant authorities were directed to conduct thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits. Available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.

“The Federal Government, through the Office of the NSA, therefore, appeals to the labour leadership to call off the current strike action and allow the dialogue process underway to be exhausted”. The statement was signed by Zakari U Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communications in the Office of the National Security Adviser.