NASARAWA, JULY 12, 2016 – The Emir of Wamba, Alhaji Lawal Musa-Nagogo, on Tuesday urged the Nasarawa State Government to dialogue with the organised labour to end the indefinite strike embarked upon by the state civil servants.Musa-Nagogo told NAN in Wamba, Wamba Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, that dialogue remained the answer to resolving the impasse.
On July 4, the state civil workers commenced an indefinite industrial action over the 50 per cent downward review of their salaries by the state government.
Similarly, the state government on July 9 said that it would sack any worker that failed to report to work and recruit fresh graduates as replacement.
Musa-Nagogo said that there was the need for both the state government and the organised labour to understand each other.
“As traditional rulers, our roles are to preach peace and advise our subjects and Nigerians at large to continue to live in peace and tolerance, irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliations.
“No nation or society can develop in an atmosphere of rancour and confusion.
“The security challenges facing our state and some parts of the country have affected our lives and socio-economic development of the country negatively, we should not compound it with industrial action.
“There are many implications associated with any strike; it will cause more harm than good and affect the lives of the people and the socio-economic development of the state and the country negatively,’’ the emir said.
He urged youths and the nation’s citizens in general to be law abiding, respect constituted authorities and shun negative tendencies.
Also, the former Chairman of Akwanga Local Government Area, Mr Abashiya Koto, appealed to the striking workers to return to work in the interest of the peace and socio-economic development of the state.
“I want to call on the workers currently on industrial action to return to work.
“The downward review of their salaries by the state government was as a result of the state’s dwindling economic fortunes.
“It was also occasioned by the shortfall in the allocation to the state from the Federation account. We, however, believe that the situation is just temporary.
“I urge the state government to expedite action to end the current impasse because of its negative implications on the citizens and the country at large,’’ Koto said.
He called on all Nigerians to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Tanko Al-Makura’s administrations so that they would be successful in the tasks ahead of them.
