By Chimezie Godfrey
#TrackNigeria – Following the recent attack on its officials by suspected thugs at the residence of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the sack of the minister and for justice to be done.
In a mega rally at Abuja Monday, organised in protest against the alleged attack on its members, NLC and other affiliated unions called on President Buhari for the removal of Dr. Chris Ngige as the Minister of Labour and Employment.
They equally demanded that justice should be done.
Newsdiaryonline correspondent gathered that the NLC officials had recently visited the Minister’s residence to discuss issues relating to the implementation of the national minimum wage, only to be assaulted by thugs suspected to be deployed by the minister.
NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the action of Ngige against the workers amounts to a desecration of the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment, and therefore deemed him no longer fit to continue to occupy that office.
Wabba listed the reasons for the protest to include the alleged attack on the workers by the minister, the exposure of the falsehood surrounding the replacement of Frank Kokori as NSITF board chairman, and allegations of corruption against the minister.
He said, “Ngige cannot sit on our minimum wage because we are told he is sitting on the implementation guidelines because he does not like Nigerians workers.
“I therefore hold him responsible.. for sitting on our minimum wage.
“So, we have said that Ngige has desecrated his office by attacking workers with thugs, he has desecrated the office of the minister of labour and we have removed the word honourable from his name.
He also sympathized with those workers that were injured.”We thank God Almighty because we have open mind that is why nobody was injured to the level of incapacitation.
“He thought they have killed some of us, that is why he went to the hospital, to think that the god of Okija can drink the blood of Nigerian workers, it has proven that nobody has died, no blood was spilled.
“The God of Nigerian workers will continue to protect us particularly in the holy month of Ramadan, and all the prayers we have offered by the special grace of God, will fall on his head.
“As I have said, our next line of action is to document a formal letter to the President. And we want our voice to be heard, we have to be given opportunity to be heard,” he said.
On the allegation of corruption against the Minister, the NLC President said he wants the truth to be told to Nigerians on the issues of corruption.
“We Challenge the Federal government not to hide anybody that has issues, let their names be published.
“We are aware when Ngige managed the place as a sole administrator for two and half years corruption also took place, and we are demanding for a commission of enquiry to find out what has happened.
