NLC flags up Seven-day nationwide strike notice

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a one-week ultimatum and warning to the Federal Government to reverse the recent increases in the pump price of petrol, school fees in federal schools and the release of 8 months withheld salaries of university lecturers or face nationwide protests and industrial action.

This is contained in a communique signed by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugbuaja at the end of the Congress’ Central Working Committee meeting in Abuja.

The communique expressed the congress’s frustration at what it described as the “continued indifference” of the Federal Government to the “plight of Nigerian workers and the poor”, warning that it had resolved to commence the mobilisation of “responsible men and women of conscience propelled by patriotic zeal” to take “necessary action” to protect democracy and the nation, since it had become clear that the federal government “is not interested in discussions”, having exhausted half of the agreed 8 weeks without activating the Presidential Steering Committee.

The communique also called for an “immediate inauguration” of the Presidential Steering Committee as agreed in the earlier consequential dialogues that the leadership of organised labour had with the Federal Government in May.

It equally called on all civil society organisations and Nigerians “wherever they may be” to begin mobilization to “take action on their own” to save the nation by organising and leading mass protest rallies across the nation in demonstration of their “outrage” against the “inhuman actions and policies” of the government.

The communique, consequently, directed all affiliates and State Councils of NLC to begin “immediate mobilization” and closely work with associations, individuals and other entities, including the ones already on the streets, to ensure that “government listens to the people”.