By Seun Aderounmu

Following several interventions,the workers of the National Identity Management Commission have suspended the industrial action which they embarked upon on Thursday over the fear of COVID-19 spread in the agency.

Sparklight News learnt that the workers decided to put the strike on hold after a meeting with the Federal Government, where it was agreed that the demands of the employees would be addressed.

Asekokhai Lucky,the President,Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NIMC Unit, confirmed the suspension of the strike.

He said workers of the commission across the country were being contacted to resume work by Monday and begin the enrolment of citizens for National Identity Numbers.

The strike had grounded activities at NIMC offices across the country, as the workers stopped work, leaving large crowds of people who had visited the commission to obtain their NINs stranded.

Lucky said, “We just finished the meeting and the minister of communications and digital economy has intervened in the matter. He has promised to look into our grievances.

“So, we will be meeting with the minister on Tuesday and on that note we’ve called off the strike and all workers will return to their offices by Monday morning.”

Lucky said a memo on the suspended strike will be everywhere in 30 minutes for other branchesftp take action.”

He further said the Trade Union Congress, which was the mother body of ASCSN, was part of the meeting with the government, as a 21-day ultimatum was served on the management of NIMC.

Lucky said, “We actually served the management of NIMC a 21-day ultimatum based on the issues of welfare and safety against COVID-19 that we raised.

“The ultimatum starts counting today officially. And for it to start counting officially from today we had to step down the strike we embarked on yesterday. So on that note also we’ve called off the strike, while the ultimatum starts running.”