The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has urged the state Nigeria Labour Congress( NLC) to shelve its swords over an attempt to remove the National minimum wage from exclusive legislative list to concurrent legislative list among other demands.

This, the House said that Gov. Abdullahi Sule’s All Progressive Congress ( APC) control state would address their plights in the interest of peace and development.

The speaker of the House, Rt Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi gave the assurance when members of NLC and Trade Union Congress( TUC) protest peacefully to the House in Lafia today.

He said that the House would continue to protect and defend the interest of Nigeria workers for development to thrive.

“You all are aware and a living witness that our Governor Engr.Abdullahi A Sule is workers friendly,together we will continue to promote the welfare of Nigeria workers in the state that is where we stand,our support for him to better the welfare of workers remains intact.

” Yesterday , we are in receipt of the communique and all the resolutions reached in the meeting of NLC/ TUC.

” We will go through your communique and come up with a positive position that will promote the welfare of Nigeria workers.

” We want to tell you that where you stand , that is where we stand.

” Shelve your swords and by the special Grace of God, I can assure you that your struggle will not end in vain.

” I no definitely that the matter will also come up at the Conference of Speakers during our next meeting and we will discuss on that,” he said.

Balarabe Abdullahi also appreciated the NLC for their support and understanding with the government of Nasarawa State, adding that the government would always stand by them.

” The APC control governmemt of Nasarawa State will stand by you,” he added.

The speaker further appreciated the workers for the confidence they have reposed on them while assuring that the House would continue to support good policies and programmes that would improve on the lives of the workers and the entire citizenry.

Earlier, Comrade Yusuf Sarki Iya, the State NLC chairman said that they were in the House in protest to resist the attempt to remove the national minimum wage from exclusive legislative list to concurrent legislative list.

” And the clause to establish the state judicial council and an attempt to create artificial scarcity of petroleum product,” he said.

The state NLC boss said that the workers would continue to resist any attempt that would create pains and hardship to workers and Nigerians.

It would be recalled that the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday, March 9, rose from an emergency meeting and announced a nationwide protest on March 10, over plans by the National Assembly to remove the national minimum wage from the exclusive list.

The House of Representatives last week debated a Bill to remove the powers to negotiate wage matters from the Exclusive to the Concurrent list, citing the inability of state governors to pay the present N30, 000 national minimum wage.