Labour Minister Lalong briefs TUC on Federal Government efforts to address grievances

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By our correspondent

For the second time in two weeks, Minister of Labour and Employment Simon Bako Lalong has interfaced with the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to brief them on the efforts made by Federal Government to address their grievances their last meeting.

The Minister in company of the Minister of State Hon. Nkeiruka Onyeajeocha told the TUC that after their last meeting, he met with the President to highlight some of the issues raised by the Labour.

He appealed to the TUC to exercise more patience explaining that before the President left for UNGA in New York, he was fully briefed and gave further directives on implementation of issues put before him particularly when he personally met with the labour leaders.

Before the meeting went into a closed door session, the Minister thanked the TUC for accepting to come for the briefing which shows that they are committed to the Nigerian project and are open to dialogue for greater industrial harmony.

On his part, TUC President Comrade Festus Osifo said the TUC appreciates the efforts of the Minister but there has to be more action than promises because workers are getting more inpatient due to hardship occasioned by the removal of subsidy.

He said the workers are facing enormous pressures that are making life very difficult which makes the leadership of TUC to have sleepless nights.

Osifo however said that the TUC hopes that between the next two weeks, the President would have done everything possible to arrive at a conclusion which the workers are eager to hear in order to douse the tension and threat for withdrawal of services by workers.

After the meeting, the TUC said it held fruitful discussions and hoped that the government will live up to its promises and responsibility for ensuring the welfare of workers and Nigerians in general.

Meanwhile, the Minister continued his engagement with the technical team from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on proposed Ministerial derivables for the actualisation of the 8 Presidential Priorities and focus areas.