The National Economic Council (NEC) has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to call off their planned nationwide strike on Tuesday, October 3.
The leadership of both unions issued a statement on Tuesday announcing a total shutdown of the country beginning next Tuesday due to the Nigerian government’s failure to meet the demands of Nigerian workers.
“The federal government has refused to meaningfully engage and reach agreements with organised Labour on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol, which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigeria workers and masses,” they said in a joint statement.
However, the National Economic Council pleaded with the two unions to put off their strike declarations and resume negotiations with the federal government following a meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
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“The Council noted further the implication of this strike for the economy and the nation and thus urged members to continue to engage with the leadership of their respective states and to appeal to them to shelve the action and continue on the path of dialogue with the federal government,” said Plateau’s Gov. Mutfwang, who was also present at the meeting.
Mr Mutfwang went on to express the National Economic Council’s concerns about the potential repercussions of the strike for numerous states across the country.
“The nation is at a very critical moment at this time, in some of the states, when they took over on May 29, the workers were on strike, some of those issues have just been resolved for the workers to return to work. To ask them to go back immediately, it’s going to further damage the economy,” he said.
Mr Mutfwang pointed out that President Tinubu’s Independence Day speech on October 1 will inevitably address some of the concerns made by the organised labour.
“Therefore NEC, while expressing genuine concern about the situation in the country, appeals for calm and patience and I want to believe that the leadership across the nation at this point in time wants to truly address the issues that concern Labour and the general populace and move the country forward,” he added.
