The Nigerian Government has made a u-turn allowing organised labour use the Eagle Square in Abuja for workers day celebration on May one.
Organised Labour was forced to declare use of the streets of Abuja for the celebration after the Abuja investment company limited sent a letter refusing use of the venue with the excuse that it is undergoing repairs ahead of May 29 onauguration of President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
In a swift reaction, minister of Labour and employment, Chris Ngige, in a statement said his attention was drawn to press releases and statements in the media that the Federal Government disapproved of the NLC and TUC using the Eagle Square for the annual May Day parade, for reasons bordering on the preparation of the venue for the May 29 inauguration of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
the Minister said he immediately since contacted the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Bello, who blamed the development on some overzealous officials, acting without his authority, as well as minor communication gap between the FCDA, the Federal Government Transition Committee and organised labour.
The statement signed by director press in the ministry of labour, olajide Oshundun said It was actually the contractor handling the renovation of the Eagle Square, Merrs Julius Berger that informed the Transition Committee for the hand over ceremony that they erected their equipment even before last Thursday when the Nigerian Army used the venue for an event attended by President mohammadu Buhari.
Ngige said Consequently, the FCT Minister assured him that the place is available for organised to use on May one, which is the workers day.
Ngige reminded that this May Day is the last in the life of this administration and that labour parade belongs to everybody, including government, diplomatic missions, international organisations, organised labour and affiliate unions and members of the public, insisting that the President, Ministers and others cannot shut themselves out.
He added that the Eagle Square is still available for all these individuals.
He furhter stressed that all invited people should make themselves available for the parade at Eagle Square, most especially the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the diplomatic missions and the international partners.
