The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged organized labor to engage in dialogue with the Nigerian government, warning that a strike would exacerbate hardship across the country.
Abubakar specifically addressed the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, emphasizing the importance of continued negotiations with the government.
In a statement he signed, the Sultan called on organized labor to reconsider their planned strike.
The Sultan said: “The Labour leaders should consider the overbearing effects of the strike action they plan to embark upon in the wellbeing of the same Nigerians, whose interests they are fighting to protect, and therefore shelve the industrial action.
“We appeal to Labour not to take the nation through another leg of hardship because that exactly is what will happen, if they make good their plan to go on this strike.
“They should try to listen to the government while the government should listen to them and both parties should arrive at a conclusion that will be beneficial to all Nigerians, with the working class inclusive.”
