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….Mobilises for protests, street rallies
The Organised Labour will be going on an indefinite nationwide strike from Tuesday, 3rd October 2023.
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero and President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Ajaero announced this after their joint Emergency National Executive Council (NAC) meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja.
All affiliates and state councils have been also directed to immediately start mobilizing for street protests and rallies until Government responds positively to their demands
Briefing Journalists after the meeting, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero and TUC President, Festus Osifo, said that the Government has totally abdicated its responsibility and has shown gross unwillingness to act, abandoning Nigerian people and workers to excruciating poverty and affliction.
They also accused the Federal Government of continually forestalling all avenues to peaceful dialogue with organized labour on ways to save Nigerians from the huge hunger and suffering experienced across the nation as a result of the hike in the price of Petrol (PMS).
Ajaero and Osifo further said the government had continued to demonstrate an unwillingness to mitigate the massive hardship in the country as well as complete lack of intention to take positive steps and empathy for the multi-dimensionally impoverished citizens of Nigeria.
“The federal Government has therefore not met in any substantial way, the demands of Nigerian workers and peoples as previously canvassed in our mutually agreed roadmap to salvaging the economy and protecting workers and Nigerians from the monumental hardships
“The grace period given by the two labour centres having expired.”
They alleged that trade unions continue to face severe threat from the State via the brutal and suppressive power of the Police and Government.
“The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) continues to be illegally occupied by the Government via the instrumentally of the Police who have cloned the leadership of NURTW
“The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) continues to be illegally occupied by the Lagos state government in total disregard to the Courts and the statutes
“That the State within the life of the ultimatum via the Police has caused loss of lives and properties with untold injuries on Nigerian workers who were on their way to go back to their Union’s national Headquarters in Abuja.
They further alleged blackmail and sponsored campaigns of calumny against trade union leaders in the social media using buying and coercive powers instead of making efforts to lift the burden on the masses.
The labour centres consequently, declared that, “in the spirit of the Independence Day celebration and to demonstrate our resolve for a truly independent Nigeria to take our destinies in our own hands and rescue our nation.
“To embark on an indefinite and total shutdown of the nation beginning on zero hours Tuesday, the 3rd day of October, 2023.
“To direct all workers in Nigeria to withdraw their services from their respective workplaces commencing from the 3rd of October.
“To direct all affiliates and state councils to immediately start mobilizing accordingly for action to organize street protests and rallies until Government responds positively to our demands
“To enjoin all patriotic Nigerians to join hands across the nation to assist this government put the people back at the centre of its policies and programmes.”
