NLC denies agreement with Nigerian govt to suspend strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it has no agreement with the federal government to call off its planned indefinite strike scheduled for Oct. 3.

Benson Upah, head of information and public affairs in NLC, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced on Tuesday they will mobilize workers across the country for a “total strike.”

Upah was reacting to a statement allegedly issued by Olajide Oshundun, director, press and public relations in the ministry of labour and employment.

Upah said there were some inconsistencies in the statement which include the proposed strike and the illegal occupation of the secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

“Accordingly, we find it necessary to make clarifications. Firstly, we do not have any agreement with the government to suspend the planned strike action,” he said.

“Neither do we have any date for a meeting with the government that may lead to the suspension of the proposed strike.

“While we do not intend to demean or minimise the office of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, this matter is beyond the Ministry.

“This should have been obvious to them during our most recent meeting,” he added.

No progress

The unions had earlier directed its sub-unions to mobilize for “an indefinite and total shutdown of the nation” to “demonstrate our resolve for a truly independent Nigeria; to take our destinies in our own hands and rescue our nation.”

Festus Osifo, president of the TUC, said all affiliates and state councils of the unions will hold street protests and rallies until the government meets their demands.

The industrial action is coming after repeated warning strikes and at a time when the country is already facing severe economic problems, including rising inflation and devalued naira.

The trade unions have been engaged in an on-and-off negotiations with the government after the Tinubu administration shoddily scrapped petrol subsidy without provisions for citizens to manage the hardship that followed.