The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Abubakar Audu, has appealed to the National Association of Scrap and Waste Dealers Employers of Nigeria (NASWDEN) to suspend its ongoing industrial action and return to the negotiation table.
Audu made the appeal through the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, in a statement signed by the Head of Press and Public Relations Department, Tine-Iulun Maureen, on Wednesday.
The minister said suspending the strike would promote industrial harmony, mutual understanding and stability in the steel sector.
The association embarked on the industrial action over concerns including alleged undervaluation of scrap metals, weight reductions linked to malpractices involving weighing scales, and the involvement of local and other steel-producing companies in direct scrap metal trading.
Other concerns include the importation of billets and practices the association believes are limiting the effective participation of local scrap dealers in the steel value chain.
The ministry said it recognises the concerns raised by NASWDEN and is considering them in consultation with the National Steel Council, with a view to developing practical and sustainable measures to address the issues.
It added that the minister had directed the Permanent Secretary, in collaboration with the Office of the Executive Secretary of the National Steel Council, to invite NASWDEN’s leadership for further discussions and mediation.
Audu also urged NASWDEN, steel-producing companies and other stakeholders to cooperate with the government and embrace dialogue and responsible engagement in resolving the dispute.
He said the collective commitment of stakeholders was essential to achieving the Federal Government’s target of 10 million metric tonnes of annual steel production by 2030, while increasing local value addition, creating jobs and reducing dependence on imported steel products.
The minister assured NASWDEN and other stakeholders that the ministry remained committed to facilitating constructive engagement and ensuring a fair and conducive operating environment for legitimate operators in the steel sector.