Strike: Nigerian Organised Labour, NLC, TUC Insist On Nationwide Strike Over Hardship

Leaders from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have firmly informed the administration of President Bola Tinubu that the 14-day nationwide strike notice is non-negotiable.

During a dialogue with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, led by the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, on Monday, the union leaders maintained that the government has the power to avert the impending strike by fulfilling the 15-point agreement established on October 2, 2023.

A spokesperson for the labor unions stated, “Despite the minister’s request for us to reconsider our planned strike, emphasizing that the federal government was taking steps to meet our demands, we stood our ground. We explicitly communicated to the minister and her team that our deadline remains firm. We stressed that the strike could only be halted if the government honors the agreement we reached on October 2, 2023.”

The labor representative added, “The meeting wasn’t fruitless, as it provided a platform for dialogue. Had the government been more receptive to discussions earlier, the strike notice might not have been necessary. Given the widespread suffering and poverty in the country, we see no reason to retract our ultimatum. The ball is now in the government’s court.”

This statement follows the NLC and TUC’s announcement on February 8, where they gave the Federal Government a 14-day strike notice starting from February 9. They expressed frustration over the government’s apparent indifference to the widespread suffering and hardship affecting the nation, despite the unions’ attempts to maintain industrial harmony.

Read Also: First Lady: Challenges will soon be over