The Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in Imo State on Monday suspended its five-day-old strike.
The decision was arrived at after a meeting between the State Government and representatives of the labour unions in the state.
In the meeting which lasted for over 12 hours starting from Sunday and spilling into the early hours of Monday, both parties resolved to end the strike action.
The NLC and TUC team was represented by Comrade Onyeka Chris, representing the NLC headquarters; Comrade Tony Ebaho, TUC headquarters; Comrade Anukworji Nduka Peter, state NLC secretary; Comrade Amalu Charles, state chairman, TUC and Comrade George Ofoegbu as well as Comr. Sir Uchenna Nwokeji.
Addressing newsmen after emerging from the meeting, one of the members of the Labour unions and state chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Comrade Sir Uchenna Nwokeji, commended the government team led by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku on its decision to have a round table discussion on the lingering standoff between the two parties.
He said: “I must commend the Imo State government team for it’s commitment at ensuring that the strike is suspended . They left every other official engagement and spent over 12 hours engaging with the team representing the NLC and TUC. We appreciate that because their efforts finally led to an amicable resolution of the matter and the eventual suspension of the strike.
“We must also say here that the governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, is a good person. He showed that this matter is as important to him as it is to us by delegating the deputy governor, the secretary to the state government, the attorney general and they spent many hours negotiating with us. That also shows that the governor and his team have the interest of the people of the state at heart. The SSANU State Chairman also commended the national president of NLC Comr. Joe Ajaero for promptly sending a high powered delegation that has the prowess and dexterity of negotiating with those in authority.
“We also commend the labour leaders who sacrificed all they had to do and ensured that this matter is resolved.
“In the same vein, we must not fail to commend the people of the state who have shown robust support for NLC and TUC. They also ensured that the right thing that should be done was done, especially as it concerns workers welfare”.
Nwokeji, who described the meeting as an all-encompassing one aimed at addressing all outstanding issues in the state, called on civil and public servants in the state to return back to their respective duty posts as the strike would no longer continue
