FG/Labour talks over PHCN workers stalled

The proposed plan to talk over the settlement of electricity workers may have hit a brick wall as representatives of the organised labour insisted they will not enter negotiations without full representation from the government and withdrawal of soldiers from Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) offices.

A meeting was convened to open talks over the matter following threats by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on a nationwide strike if the demands of the PHCN workers are not met.

They lamented the absence of the Minister of Power, Bureau for Public Enterprise and other key government players apart from the Minister of Labour.

The Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, in an in interview with Channels Television however explained that negotiations were to commence with the Labour Minister after which other top government representatives will be invited.

He also said that the federal government has bent over backwards to meet the demands of the union. He said “a nationwide strike to disrupt activities is not in the best interest of the country”.

Minister of Labour, Emeka Wogu appealed to the unions present to be genuine in their presentations as it concerns national and industrial peace.

The meeting was held at the Ministry of Labour with representatives of the NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC), affiliate labour unions and government officials.