PDP appeals to Labour to call off strike

The Peoples` Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to call off the ongoing national strike in the interest of the country.
The Office of the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Prof. Rufai Alkal, made the appeal in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
.“We wish to appeal to the labour movement to weigh the effects of their current action on the unity, peace and stability of the nation and call off this strike without any further delay,’’ the statement said.
It said the only option available for any meaningful engagement was dialogue, where all grey areas and misconceptions would be addressed in the overall interest of the country.
The party assured Nigerians that their welfare and well-being was paramount in the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.
“All actions so far taken are geared towards achieving the long-term objectives of building a productive and vibrant economy that will benefit the entire citizens of this country,’’ it said.
The party said the measure were aimed at addressing “the decay in our infrastructure and creating jobs for our youths’’.
It condemned the violence that erupted in some parts of the country as a result of the strike and protests.
“We are particularly pained that innocent young children are being dragged into this circle of violence and are indeed being used as human shields,’’ the party said.
It condoled with the families of those, who lost their lives or property through the strike, and prayed that the souls of the departed would rest in peace.
The party said it had earlier advised labour against carrying out street protests and demonstrations on the assumption they might be hijacked by mischievous politicians.
It said such politicians would want to use the situation “to vent their anger and frustrations over their political failures’’.
It said the efforts of such politicians were beyond the struggle for the reversal of the fuel price of petrol.
It said that such politicians did not mind bringing “down the roof’’, even if by doing so they brought untold hardship, pain and anguish to the people.
“We are saddened that despite the collective desire of all Nigerians to live peacefully together, some people are bent on undermining the unity and stability of the nation,’’ the party said.
It called on all Nigerians to stay where they were, remain calm and allow the security agencies to handle all matters arising from the situation.
Source