By Rasaq Oboirien
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) nationwide strike, which commenced yesterday may scuttle the travel plans of South Africa’s Banana Banana ahead of Friday’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match billed for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
It was gathered that the South African Football Association (SAFA) has informed their counterpart Nigeria Football Federation counterpart of their travel itinerary.
According to SAFA, “Its delegation of Bafana Bafana is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday, with the team already booked into Four Points By Sheraton Hotel in Ikot-Ekpene.”
The Organised Labour is demanding a new national minimum wage and reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.
On the first day of the indefinite nationwide strike, Aviation staff and employees who joined the strike, led to significant disruptions to travel arrangements for the World Cup qualifiers.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the nationwide strike may linger on if the labour demands are not met, as the Federal Government has invited the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to an emergency meeting at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The meeting, according to labour, was called to broker solutions to the issues that led to industrial action and eventually get the labour to end the strike.