Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has said that Nigerians will suffer if the Organised Labour continues its nationwide strike.
Nkeiruka stated this during an interview on Monday.
On Monday, the organized labour embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike after the union failed to reach an agreement with the federal government over minimum wage.
The action crippled activities in various sectors, as schools, hospitals and offices were closed.
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 exams centres.
“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 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.
Nigerians will suffer if Labour continues strike – Minister
