09 November 2012, Sweetcrude, ABUJA – NIGERIA’s iron and steel workers have suspended their decision to embark on strike over unsettled disputes with their management and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON.
The resolution of the workers followed the intervention of the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Nwogu.
The resolution is contained in a statement issued at the end of a meeting in Abuja at the instance of the labour minister.
The meeting was held between the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria , SSSAN and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON.
The statement was signed by Mr Otori Saliu, the National President, ISSAN, Mr Akporeha Williams, NLC Chairman Delta State Council and Mr Nuhu Abba-Toro, the NLC Assistant Secretary.
Mr Mustafa Chike-Obi, the Managing Director, AMCON signed for the company, while and Mrs Chinedu Dike, represented the labour minister.
The workers had threatened to down tools if their demands were not met by the management.
The association had decried the continuous ejection of the Nigerian staff of Delta Steel Company, DSC, from their official residences.
They were also not happy over the non-involvement of the trade union in the sales and revival processes of the DSC.
The workers said they were not comfortable with at a situation where the management of DSC with drew power from the residences of Nigerian staff among other social facilities.
This development, they said, was contrary to the assurance by the company that the staff affected would have “continued enjoyment of power, schools and other facilities”.
The meeting agreed that the trade unions would submit a charter of demand to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity for onward transmission to AMCON.
According to the statement, negotiations on the quantum, manner and mode of payment of outstanding salaries and severance benefits shall effectively commence between AMCON and representatives of the workers.
AMCON further promised that it would henceforth involve the trade unions in the sales and revival processes of the DSC, the statement added.
