CAN ADVISES NLC TO SHELVE STRIKE

By NBF News

Wednesday, 10 November 2010 00:00 Ibraheem Musa, Kaduna   

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve its proposed strike due to commence today, saying during the strike, it is usually the masses that  suffer.

Addressing a news conference in Kaduna yesterday, chairman of CAN in the Northern states, Arch Bishop Peter Jatau, justified the need for the minimum wage, saying the Northern chapter of CAN appreciates the plight of Nigerian workers as regards their salaries.

'The demand of N18,000 as minimum wage is justifiable, considering the economic situation in the country,“ he said.

However, he argued that the masses would be the ones to bear the consequences of the strike.

It would be recalled that negotiation between the organised labour and the Federal Government over the minimum wage on Monday was deadlocked with the NLC insisting on a strike.

Meanwhile, CAN has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its efforts towards organizing a fresh voters' registration exercise. It, however, called on security agencies to monitor the nation's borders to prevent politicians from bringing in foreigners from neighbouring countries to register as voters.

The association also called on Christians to register en masse during the exercise, saying that is the only way they can elect leaders of their choice.

CAN also expressed worry about the increasing wave of crime in the country, particularly kidnapping and armed robbery, calling on governments at all levels to address the security situation in the country.