President of the TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo urged the NLC to
intensify dialogue with the government.
“As of today, the need to embark on a nationwide strike
hasn’t arisen hence the leadership of congress should intensify the
conversation with government so that all grey areas identified could be ironed
out within the time frame given”, Osifo said after meeting Labour Minister
Simon Lalong.
The NLC declared last week that its members will embark on
the warning strike from tomorrow.
In three weeks time, it will then embark on a general strike
to protest the rising cost of living, after the government scrapped petrol
subsidy that cost the government about $10 billion yearly.
The Unions went on strike a month ago, but suspended their
action following an offer of talks with the government, but those talks did not
result in concessions sufficient to placate organised labour.
“The federal government has refused to engage and reach
agreement with organized labour on the critical issues of the consequences of
the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol which has unleashed massive
suffering on Nigerian workers and masses,” Union leader Joe Ajaero said.
The NLC rebuffed talks with the new labour minister, Simon
Lalong on Monday, as it said it will embark on the warning strike, preparatory
for “total and indefinite shutdown of the nation” later in the month.
Ajaero insisted the strike can only be averted whensteps are
taken by the government to address the “excruciating mass suffering and
impoverishment being experienced around the country”.
Lalong appealed to the NLC to shelve the strike, saying that
such action would be detrimental to plans of the government.
“It has become pertinent to appeal to the leadership of the
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to suspend its intended two-day warning strike,
as such action would be detrimental to the gains already being recorded on our
course to securing a greater future fo Nigerian workers and citizens at large
“It should be realised that the cabinet of this
administration was only recently sworn in by Mr. President and all cabinet
members have hit the ground running by receiving briefings from their MDAs.
“Therefore, the issues raised by the leadership of the NLC
are some issues that I and the Hon. Minister of State for Labour and Employment
are being briefed upon. In the next few weeks, we intend to address them
holistically.
“Consequently, I use this opportunity to reassure Nigerian
workers that this government would never take them for granted nor fail to
appreciate their support and understanding.
“We shall continue to pursue policies aimed at massive
employment generation in all sectors of the economy as well as look into
immediate challenges that have emerged from the policies of the government. We
cannot do this in an atmosphere devoid of industrial peace,” he said.
Lalong said his ministry had not received any notification
about the planned strike as required by law.