BY BEN AGANDE

 ABUJA – The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha has commended the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and other members of organized labour for suspending the strike action earlier planned to commence on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 over implementation of the minimum wage for workers. 
  
Ihedioha who spoke on the suspension of the proposed strike on the floor of the house, Wednesday also congratulated the Speaker,  Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for his intervention to avert the proposed industrial action.  

The Deputy speaker said the intervention by the Speaker was a display of  visionary leadership qualities which has  made every member of the Houseof Representatives proud. 
  
  While commending  the Senate for showing understanding and support for the truce initiative spearheaded by the House, Ihedioha said the  ‘gesture from the Senate indicated a new era of harmonious working relationship between both chambers of the legislature’.
 
It would be recalled that following the notice of a 3-day warning strike threat issued  by NLC and its affiliates, the House of Representatives  adopted a motion last Wednesday, mandating its leadership to engage organized labour, the Minister of Labour and Productivity and other relevant agencies of government in a dialogue in order to avert the strike.  

While describing labour’s decision to suspend the proposed strike as patriotic,  Ihedioha commended the Federal Government’s team led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim and the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, the Governors’ Forum led by Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Governor Adams Oshiomhole as well as other stakeholders involved in mediating over the impasse.
 
He  however urged all concerned parties to respect agreements mutually entered into in order to avert any industrial unrest that could endanger the  country’s fragile  economy.