By Austin Ogwuda

Asaba — DELTA State governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to always involve the states while negotiating wages and allowances with the organised labour, so as to forestall industrial disharmony.

The governor, while receiving members of Senior Executive Course 36 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, who were on a courtesy visit in Asaba, said that the call had become necessary because oftentimes, most states do not have the financial capacity to pay, thereby precipitatiing strike actions.

He said: “The Federal Government goes into negotiations with labour leaders in Abuja without involving the states and reaches agreements which are expected to be binding on all.  Most states do not have the financial capacity to implement these decisions and this has led to frequent strike actions and disharmony in the affected states.”

He noted that if federalism was practiced to the letter, the states should be allowed to be part of the negotiations with labour and pay agreed wages and allowances in line with their capacities.

Leader of the study team which comprises 16 Nigerians from different sectors of the economy, Ambassador Adamu Abbas, said that they were on a study tour of the state.

He said that the study with the theme Industrial Relations, Labour Productivity and National Development, was to proffer solutions to recurring strike actions by the organised labour that was affecting growth and productivity in the country.