The Federal Government of Nigeria has made a plea to construction workers in the country, urging them to reconsider their plan for a nationwide warning strike. 

The appeal was made by Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, during a meeting held in Abuja aimed at resolving disputes between the workers and their employers.

The construction workers, organized under the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture, and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) and the Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA), had threatened a nationwide strike if their demands were not met. 

The dispute centers on the refusal of their employers, the Construction and Civil Engineering Employers Association of Nigeria (CCEEAN), to implement the N35,000 wage award for workers in the construction industry—an agreement reached between the federal government and organized labor to alleviate the impact of subsidy removal.

Minister Onyejeocha appealed to the workers to suspend the planned warning strike and allow for a resolution through dialogue. She emphasized the government’s commitment to fulfilling promises to the people and sought the cooperation of all Nigerians in maintaining industrial peace.

While addressing the workers, Onyejeocha encouraged continued engagement between employers and employees. She assured that the government would persist in advising employers to consider reason and avoid a strike. 

Vincent Barrah, the President of CCEEAN, emphasized that the welfare of the workers remained a top priority for the association. He highlighted the association’s regular wage reviews and explained that the wage award was intended for federal government workers. Barrah also pointed out the association’s efforts, including an upward review of transport fares, to alleviate the impact of economic challenges in the country.