The Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has warned that Nigerians will suffer if the Organised Labour continues its nationwide strike.
Nkeiruka made this statement during an interview on Monday.
On the same day, the Organised Labour began an indefinite nationwide strike after failing to reach an agreement with the federal government over the minimum wage.
The strike has disrupted activities across various sectors, leading to the closure of schools, hospitals, and offices.
Reacting to the development, the Minister said,
“We know what the issues are and we hope they will be resolved, but going to strike will take the matter to the extreme with a lot of negative implications to both our economy and the welfare of the citizens.
“If the strike continues, the citizens will suffer and they have started suffering.
“Our students who were supposed to be taking exams have been affected because they can’t find means of transportation to exam centers.
“There are people who can’t eat until they go to their places of work. Some people who work at the Secretariat live daily on what they get from the officers there.”
She lamented the effect of the strike on hospitals, stating that the National grid shutdown will continue to affect a lot of medical procedures.
She stressed that hospitals being inaccessible, and doctors not being able to perform their duties might lead to the death of patients.
“On production side, we know that when activities are shut down, it will affect our economy. Businesses will definitely be affected. Social life has also been affected too”, she said.
It was reported that the NLC, despite reaching an agreement with the Federal Government after a meeting on Monday night, has insisted on continuing the nationwide strike.
