NLC tackles TUC for ‘backing out of a strike they didn’t call’

CHANNELS TV

A trade union cannot pull out of an industrial action it did not initiate, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said Monday in response to a refusal of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to participate in a two-day warning strike two weeks ago.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today, hours after a meeting between the Federal Government and the NLC to avert an indefinite strike ended in a deadlock.

Shortly after that deliberation, the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, went into a separate meeting with the TUC.

Both unions have held separate engagements with the Federal Government since the warning strike earlier this month.

“From what you can see from our last warning strike, you see that we can do it alone,” Ajaero said.

Asked if the NLC does not need the TUC, Ajaero stated, “We can work independently; we can work jointly when we agree.

“But the NLC will not take under our watch if we give a strike notice and then a union that didn’t give a strike notice says they are backing out of a strike that they didn’t call for.”

The NLC president argued that any union could give their strike notice.

“TUC can give their strike notice and go ahead with their notice. NLC can give their strike notice and go ahead with their notice,” he said.

He however stated that if TUC gives a strike notice…