The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are gearing up to initiate a nationwide action from October 3, 2023.
This decision follows the perceived ‘failure’ of the government to effectively implement policies aimed at easing the hardships faced by Nigerians after the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
During a virtual National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Zoom, NLC National President Joe Ajaero shared the outcome of discussions held with TUC officials. It was agreed that both labor centers should collaborate to communicate their position to the government.
While some NLC members initially expressed objections to working alongside the TUC, the prevailing sentiment is that the government has not taken proactive steps to address their concerns, leaving labor unions with little choice but to take decisive action.
Recalled, Eventville reported that the NLC had issued a 21-day ultimatum, which ended last week. Joe Ajaero, the NLC’s national president, lamented that “none of the demands presented to the Federal Government had been addressed.”
To demonstrate their readiness for an indefinite strike later in the month, the unions conducted a two-day nationwide warning strike on September 5 and 6.
Among their key demands are wage adjustments, the implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances for public sector workers, and a review of the minimum wage.
In June, President Bola Tinubu established the Presidential Steering Committee and various sub-committees to discuss the framework for palliatives. Despite the federal government’s commitment to restructure the engagement framework with organized labor, the eight-week timeline set for concluding the process expired in August without any action taken.
The sub-committees, tasked with hastening the implementation of the framework to mitigate the impact of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians, have yet to convene or fulfill their mandates, leading to frustration among NLC and TUC leaders.
More details on this development are expected to emerge in due course.