THE NATION
Organised Labour has asked Nigerians to stock up their homes ahead of a nationwide strike billed to commence October 3.
General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Emmanuel Ugboaja said this during a joint briefing addressed by the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Festus Osifo on Tuesday in Abuja.
The labour leaders said the National Executive Councils (NEC) of the NLC and TUC in their various meetings “deeply analysed the current situation in the country, taking into cognisance the extensive hardships and deprivation afflicting our citizens across all states of the federation and unanimously condemned the apparent conscious lethargy and tardiness in handling the consequences of its petrol price hike on Nigerians.”
Barring last minute intervention by the Federal Government, the organised labour has directed all workers in Nigeria to withdraw their services from their respective workplaces commencing from the 3rd of October.
It directed all affiliates and state councils to immediately start mobilising for industrial action, urging them to organise street protests and rallies until the government responded positively to its demands.
Labour’s position followed the expiration of a 21 – day ultimatum issued to the government on September 1.
That ultimatum ended on Friday.
Prior to the expiration of the 21 day ultimatum, the NLC had embarked on a two – day warning strike between 5th and 6th of this month to drive home its demands.
The TUC didn’t take part in the warning strike, saying it preferred to dialogue with the government before resorting to industrial action.
Some of the demands put before the government by labour included wage award and tax exemptions and allowances to public sector workers.
Others are: provision of Compressed Natural Gas buses, release of modalities for the N70bn for Small and Medium Enterprises, release of officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers by the police, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria crisis in Lagos, among others.
The demands also included the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the Federal Government, including the recent hike in PMS price, increase in public school fees, the release of the eight months withheld salaries of university teachers and workers as well as the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT).
On Friday the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong secured the release of the elected members of NURTW.
The release of the officials was one of the key demands of the NLC. The other is the wage award.
Speaking during the joint press conference at the end of an emergency NEC to review discussions with government, Ajaero said there was no “disagreement between Labour and government on the existence of massive suffering, impoverishment and hunger in the country as a result of the hike in the price of Petrol which demands an urgent need for remedial action.”
