The Federal Government of Nigeria has been advised to do everything humanly possible to see that the Nigeria Labour Congress did not embark on an indefinite strike over the failure of the government to agree on a reasonable new minimum wage for workers in the country.
Giving this advice today Sunday in his homily during his Episcopal service of induction, admission and confirmation of Anglican faithful at Emmanuel Church Umualum Nekede, the Bishop of Egbu, Anglican Communion, the Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Enyinnaya Okorafor said that it will be very disastrous if Labour goes on strike this time that the country is facing a serious economic quagmire.
According to Bishop Okorafor, the Nigerian government if it wants to be sincere to itself can conveniently pay a minimum wage of up to N100,000 to N150,000 to Nigerian workers rather than still dragging its feet on coming to reasonable terms with the Labour.
He advised the Federal Government to show love to the people by coming to terms with labour rather than allowing them to embark on strike which will definitely affect the country economically.
The Bishop made it clear that with the present economy of the country, the sum of N60,000 which the Federal Government has already agreed to pay out of N494,000 proposed by Labour cannot in any way feed one man let a lone a family in a month. He therefore appealed to the Federal Government to call the Labour leaders for a dialogue with the intention to agree on reasonable amount as new minimum wage for workers.
Bishop Okorafor also appealed to the Federal Government to look into the ongoing crises in Aba, Eastern part of the country where some hoodlums allegedly attacked a team of military personnel on 30th of May while Biafrans were observing the remembrance of their fallen heroes.
According to him, the Nigerian military should investigate thoroughly to find out the perpetrators of the heinous crime rather than accusing the members of IPOB as the culprits hence making some innocent people to suffer what they know nothing about.
FROM HENRY AMADI, THE DIOCESAN COMMUNICATOR.