The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has asked the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to halt its plan for a nationwide strike over fuel subsidy removal.

The speaker made the call on Tuesday in his speech at the resumption of plenary after the eight-week holiday.

Abbas said the planned strike by the NLC would further aggravate the economic challenges facing the country and pleaded with the leadership of the union to be patient with the government.

He assured the NLC that the House would mediate between them and the federal government to fast-track an agreement.