The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has proceeded on a nationwide protest after the last minute appeal by the federal government to the labour leaders failed.
How long the protest will last Nigerians are not sure, raising fears that the current economic problems will get worse due to the NLC directive to workers and others to stay at home.
This is because most economic activities are usually grounded during such protests by Nigeria’s largest labour union, analsyst say.
On Tuesday, NLC leaders and representatives of the federal government negotiating team met but failed to reach any agreement on the demands of labours concerning the provision of palliatives following the removal of fuel subsidy last month.
Earlier on Monday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had during his national broadcast to Nigerians outlined ongoing measures by his government to respond to the economic pains in the country due to the removal of petrol subsidy in May this year.
Also, efforts by the Nigerian Senate to broker truce between the presidency and NLC yesterday achieved nothing as the union insist on a strike.
Keen watchers of Tinubu’s government said his Monday address was meant to pre-empt the nationwide strike by the NLC, which the federal government described as illegal citing the case between the NLC and government at the National Industrial Tribunal, NIT.
The tribunal had in June stopped the NLC from going on strike, the workers however insist that things have changed since the ruling was made.
As early as Wednesday morning, leaders of the union, their affiliates and members of the civil society have gathered their members at designated points across the country where the protest is expected to kick off.
The NLC had in a press statement released issued on Tuesday, said the mass protest was necessary to press home their demands for a better life for their members and Nigerians.
According to the statement, Joe Ajaero, the NLC President urged other Nigerians to join the nationwide protest, adding that those trying to stop the strike should be ignored.
He said the protest is in the collective interest of Nigerians.
The Union listed their demands as follows:
- Immediate and good-faith implementation of resolutions jointly signed by the NLC, the federal government, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
- Reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government, including the recent price hike of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), school fees, and Value Added Tax (VAT).
- Rehabilitation of local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna.
- Prompt release of 8 months withheld salaries owed to university lecturers and workers.
- Recognition and support for the Presidential Steering Committee and its sub-committees, along with a call to end inhumane acts and policies of the government.
Ahead of the strike, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbedokun warned not to embark on violent protest, saying security agencies will not allow hoodlums to hijack it.
Meanwhile, not a few Nigerians have expressed fears about how long the protest will last, they are appealing to the parties to ensure that Nigerians are not made to suffer more hardship due to NLC and the federal government’s failure to find a common ground as soon as possible,
