Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reiterated its resolve to go ahead with the nationwide strike planned for Wednesday, despite all entreaties.
Consequently, the Labour union is reportedly mobilizing all state councils and civil societies towards ensuring an effective strike action.
According to some officials of the NLC, their decision to go ahead with the strike is irreversible, given that the government of Tinubu has refused to acknowledge that its policies on the removal of fuel subsidy and subsequent increases in the pump price of petrol are very harsh on the people and have made living unbearable for the poor masses. Labour affirms that they are not ready to back out of the proposed protest and strike until the government decides to give its policies a ‘human’ face.
Guardian reports that, going by the information it has gleaned, the planned meeting between government and the Labour slated for today, Monday, might not hold.
NLC is demanding that government reverts pump price of petrol t the old price, adding that it is only on that condition will they resume talks with the federal government, and call off the planned protest and strike.
Concerned Nigerians and stakeholders have called for caution on both sides, even as they ask the federal government to urgently take steps towards addressing the plight of the people.
According to reports by the Guardian, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), yesterday, said the parlous state of the economy, recent mobilisation for the strike, and civil action by NLC and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) were not only worrisome but also call for urgent action by government and other stakeholders.
A statement by the Director General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, urged the government to urgently take steps to ease the economic trauma being faced by workers, other Nigerians and organised businesses, adding that there is no gain saying the fact that many businesses and lives have been adversely affected by the singular policy.
He noted that this would exacerbate the current unemployment rate and drag many Nigerians further down the poverty line.
He said: “Any strike, threat of mass action or civil disobedience that could potentially disrupt economic activities, especially those in the formal and informal sectors (which could compromise sustainability and job creation), based on economic policies of the government (which are non-employment related) will be counter-productive.
“While organised labour is at liberty to engage with the government on behalf of its members on issues of welfare, as they relate to impacts of any economic policy, sometimes deadlock may hold sway. When that happens, the consequential action by organised labour should not, in any way, hinder anyone from going about their businesses peacefully or cause anyone to be intimidated or harassed.”
With additional reports from the Guardian
