The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria has concluded plans to acquire 57 per cent stake of Unity Bank Plc, the president of the congress, Comrade Bala Kaigama, announced on Thursday.

Kaigama, who was speaking at the ongoing 10th Triennial National Delegates Conference of TUC in Abuja, said the acquisition was one of the congress efforts to reposition the congress from being spectators to investors and guarantee the welfare of its members.

The TUC president said the process was already concluded, while assuring that his members would never suffer after retirements, but enjoy the fruits of their labour.

According to him: “Through the TUC economy, we are on the verge of acquiring major shareholding in Unity Bank Plc. We have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the management and the process is on. We will tag it as Nigerian workers’ bank and will let Nigerians know that we have a bank in place. To build a better Nigeria, we, in TUC, shall move from just being spectators in the Nigerian economy to becoming investors in the Nigerian economy.

“We can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines and watch helplessly as others decide our future and that of our families. We must take our future in our hands. To achieve this, join me in building the TUC economy.”

Speaking, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, urged the Labour unions to honour rules of engagements as it relates to disputes resolution with the government.

Ngige said: “Let me emphasise at this point the need for all players within the industrial relations space to play to the rules and embrace the principle of social dialogue as a veritable tool for the resolution of conflicts. We must move away from confrontations to consensus.

“I have observed with dismay the growing inter and intra-union squabbles which had eroded the greater union solidarity and cooperation we need at this time. Let us learn to close ranks and work together for common good of the country and our members in general.”

He commended the TUC leadership for the matured way it handled imminent crisis that might have paralysed the country, following the upward review of pump price of petrol.

Ngige urged other trade unions to synergise with the government in tackling corruption in all its ramifications.

Furthermore, he emphasised the need for all Nigerians to promote the unity of the country by shunning every corrupt tendencies, nepotism, rivalry, vandalism and kidnapping, among others.

•Photo shows TUC President, Comrade Bala Kaigama.

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