Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, says the National Assembly will review and address the demands of organised labour in one week.
Akpabio said this when the leaders of organised labour led a mass protest to the National Assembly complex on Wednesday in Abuja.
During the protest at the legislative complex, organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress(TUC) over anti-poor and workers policies of the federal government, the labour leaders submitted a list of their demands.
The protest followed the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the country’s foreign exchange policy which resulted in the high cost of petrol, transportation and food items across the country.
Akpabio, represented by Ali Ndume, chief whip of the Senate, assured the organised labour that NASS was in support of their struggle.
“We have keenly followed what is going on when we realized that there was a breakdown in the discussions between the Presidency and the NLC. I want to assure you that we will find a permanent solution to this.
“Please give us one week and we will make progress and if you are not satisfied with the progress we are making, then you can take further action,” Ndume said.
He also said that a committee had been set up to look at the demands of organised labour.
The Senate chip whip added that by the close of the day or tomorrow, they will call the first meeting with labour to start the discussions and the engagements would continue.
“We will do our best as your representatives to come out with solutions acceptable to you and realistic enough,” he said.
He also assured that the letter would be handed over to the leadership of the Senate for review and action.
Joe Ajaero, NLC President in his brief remark, said the nationwide protest was to express workers’ frustrations and grievances about the anti-poor policies of the Tinubu administration that had brought hardship to Nigerians.
“For almost two months now, we have been engaged in discussions without fruitful motion. We got frustrated,” Ajaero said.
