Nigeria: Kaduna Government May Not Attend Thursday Meeting With Labour Minister

The Kaduna state government may not attend the meeting with the Labour Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige and the NLC scheduled for Thursday, saying it has not seen any evidence that the strike has been suspended what it described as “campaign of economic and social sabotage against the people of the state.”

The statement issued by the spokesman of Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Muyiwa Adekeye, about three hours after the NLC announced the suspension of its warning strike, said the Kaduna State government will not participate in any negotiation or countenance one when residents of the state were still being denied their right to electricity.

The statement said, “The Kaduna State Government is yet to see evidence that the NLC is backing off from its campaign of economic and social sabotage against the people of the State.

“Electric power is yet to be restored, after it was shutdown at dawn on Sunday, 16th May 2021, in brazen violation of the laws protecting essential services and infrastructure.“That action removed any basis for state government officials to meet the NLC last Sunday”

Adekeye stated further that “Denying our people electricity about 18 hours to the advertised commencement of their organised sabotage was akin to putting a gun on the government’s head. “Government has a lawful duty not to indulge blackmail.

“Restoring electricity is vital to relieving some of the pain that needless acts of lawlessness have inflicted on our people. The unimpeded provision of essential services is vital to civilised order.

“Those who have disrupted it should promptly reverse themselves, not expect that it will be a matter for negotiation, much less being viewed as a precondition.

“KDSG will not participate in such a negotiation or countenance one whilst our people are still being denied their right to electricity.”