By Demola Akinyemi
ILORIN—Senator Abubakar Saraki, representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to revert the pump price of petrol to N65 per litre, while labour leaders and rights activists halt the nationwide strike to give room for negotiation and avert further deaths.

The former Governor of Kwara State also expressed the need for the Federal Government to simultaneously tackle the problem of terrorism which, he said, was threatening the unity of the country.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Advocacy and News Media, Mr. Bamikole Omishore, in Ilorin, he said: “My humble advice to the Federal Government and all parties involved at this critical moment is for everyone to return to the position before the dispute, which is a standard practice for all industrial dispute resolution all over the world.”

“I believe that the Senate’s current role as an arbitrator between the Federal Government and organised labour is the right one, which is to find a meeting point for a peaceful resolution to this strike.”

“As representatives of the people, we are elected to serve; we must hearken to the anguish, feel the pain of the people and also provide support for the Federal Government. So government should shift ground. Labour should do the same. This will create room for dialogue.”