NLC Denies Agreement with Federal Government
On Thursday, the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) made it clear that no agreements had been reached with the federal government to halt the proposed indefinite strike scheduled to commence on October 3.
This statement comes after earlier reports suggested a potential resolution had been reached.
Background of the Strike Announcement
Earlier in the week, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) jointly declared that workers would embark on an indefinite strike in response to the government’s lack of palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal of the gasoline subsidy.
Contradictory Reports
There were reports in the media claiming that Mr. Olajide Oshundun, the Director of Press at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, had stated that the government and organized labor had agreed to put the planned strike on hold.
However, the NLC firmly refuted such claims, asserting that no agreement had been made.
Absence of Invitation for Discussion
The NLC clarified that the government had not extended any invitations to the union, nor had it set a date for a meeting to discuss the proposed strike.
This contradicted Oshundun’s earlier statement, which he later denied making.
Statement from the NLC
In a statement issued by the Head of Information and Public Affairs at the NLC, Benson Upah, it was emphasized that there was no agreement in place to suspend the planned strike action.
The NLC also noted that the matter went beyond the Ministry of Labour and Employment and that a meeting date had not been scheduled.
Concerns About Terminology
The NLC expressed concerns about the Ministry’s description of certain executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers as “factional leaders.”
The NLC stated that these executives were lawfully elected into office and urged the police and those responsible for their detention to desist from such actions, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic principles and resisting impunity.
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