NATA strike: Niger govt. calls for dialogue

The Niger government has called on the state chapter of Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), to suspend its two day warning strike to protest against alleged multiple taxation.Mr Jonathan Vatsa, the state commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Minna.He appealed to the organisation to embrace dialogue as government has promised to meet with the leadership of the association on Monday  to find ways of resolving the issue.NAN recalls that the state chapter of NATA had on Friday embarked on a two day warning strike to protest against alleged multiple taxation on its members by the state government.“Government has appealed to NATA to suspend the strike to enable us meet with them on Monday to resolve the issue.“If there is any government policy on taxation that NATA don’t understand they should approach us for dialogue.“I believe that in the end we will reach an agreement on the issue, but don’t be surprise that what had happened may be communication gap and we will bridge it,’’ he said.He explained that strike by any group in the state would bring untold hardship on the people due to the current economic recession.“Strike actions will negatively affect our state economy going by the current economic challenges in the country,’’ he said.Also, Mr Ayuba A-Oluobor, the state NATA chairman confirmed to NAN that government had promised to meet with the association on Monday on the issue.He said security agencies and other organisations had appealed to the association to suspend the strike, promising to make a formal report on the matter to government.“For now we have suspended the strike hoping that we will settle the issue on Monday when we meet with government,’’ he said.NAN