>
The Federal Government has warned Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, not to escalate the ongoing labour crisis in the state.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, in a statement signed on Tuesday night by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Charles Akpan, appealed to workers, especially those in critical sectors, not to tamper with electrical or water installations so as not to bring more sufferings to the people of the state.
Ngige said the strike in Kaduna State had already snowballed into a national strike and picketing, appealing to the leaders of the labour unions to step down action in order to make way for discussion.
“We hope and also pray the Kaduna State governor not to escalate matters to such a level where it becomes uncontrollable,” the minister said.
Ngige said the Federal Government had waded into the national strike and picketing in Kaduna State by the two labour unions, urging El-Rufai, Nigerian Labour Congress President, Ayuba Wabba, and President of the Trade Union Congress, Qadiri Olaleye, to immediately cease fire.
Following the disruption of the workers peaceful protest on Tuesday by thugs allegedly sent by the state government, labour has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike and vowed to shut all power installations across the country.
Also,the Nigeria Union of Patrol and Natural Gas (NUPENG) have has also put its members across the country on alert over the attacks on peaceful protesters in Kaduna State and threatened to withdraw their services.