The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have resolved to ground activities nationwide from October 3, 2023, following what the Labour Unions tagged as the “failure” of government to successfully implement policies to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit.
Joe Ajaero, the national president of the NLC, informed the NEC members during a virtual meeting of the National Executive Council on Zoom on Tuesday that a meeting had been held with TUC representatives to discuss next steps. Ajaero stated that it was decided that the two centers should collaborate to communicate their position to the government.
Members of the NLC initially objected to the development of the NLC working together with the TUC.
“Initially some members did not want us to work with the TUC but as of now, we don’t have a choice. The government has not been proactive. So it is going to be a definite action this time around.”
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The NLC’s 21-day deadline expired last week. Joe Ajaero, the NLC’s national president, has expressed dissatisfaction that “none of the demands put before the Federal Government had been addressed.”
In preparation for the longer strike later in the month, the union first staged a two-day nationwide warning strike on September 5 and 6.
Among other things, the NLC and the TUC are asking for wage awards, implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to public sector workers and a review of the minimum wage.
President Bola Tinubu had on June 19 set up the Presidential Steering Committee and various sub-committees to discuss the framework to be adopted on the palliatives.
Though the FG made a commitment to restructure the framework for engagement with organised Labour on palliatives, the eight-week timeframe set for the conclusion of the process expired in August with no action taken.
The committees were given eight weeks to conclude their assignment and hasten the implementation of the framework in cushioning the effect of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians but weeks after the timeframe expired, the sub-committees had yet to meet or actualise their mandates, leaving the NLC and TUC leadership frustrated.
Details later…
