NURTW factions urged to maintain peace as Minister wades into dispute

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has urged the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) factions to maintain peace as the Ministry wades into their dispute for amicable resolution.

The spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation (FMINO), Olajide Oshundun, disclosed this in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.

“Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, appealed to the NURTW factions to maintain peace as the Ministry wades into their dispute for amicable resolution,” Oshundun posted.

He also said that the NURTW has thanked the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, for securing the release of some of their members, who were arrested two weeks ago by government agents.

Alhaji Ibikunle Baruwa, who led a team of four members of the NURTW on a thank-you visit to the Minister, appreciated the efforts of both the Minister and Minister of State, Labour and Employment, in facilitating the release on bail of the affected members.

The Minister appreciated the visit and sued for peace between the two factions of the NURTW.

He maintained that industrial harmony remains key to the socio-economic development of any nation, and urged the Union to work in synergy with the Federal Government (FG) in moving the country forward.

According to Oshundun, Lalong noted that securing the release of the detained NURTW members was one of the demands of NLC at last week’s meeting between the Congress and the Ministers of Labour and Employment.

He assured them that the processes leading to the fulfilment of the other requests of the NLC, especially wage award, were on course, and would be concluded soon.

The Minister therefore called on the NLC not to embark on their planned strike, and allow government work to resolve all pending issues.