On Thursday, the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC had a meeting with the Federal Government to discuss the terms of negotiation in regards to the proposed indefinite strike as forewarned by NLC.

Recall that some organizations such as Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and Nigerian Labour Congress announced that workers will embark on an indefinite strike starting from October 3rd, 2023 due to the refusal of the government to proffer solutions to lessen the impact of the subsidy removal.

Reports have it that Mr. Olajide Oshundun, the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s Director of Press, had stated that the government and organized labor had reached an understanding to put the planned strike on hold.

The NLC asserted that there was no agreement at all and that the government had not extended an invitation to the union or set a date for a meeting to discuss the proposed strike, even though Oshundun later denied making such claims.

NLC in a statement issued by its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, said, “The press statement issued by the Director of Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Olajide Oshundun on our proposed strike action and illegal occupation of the secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers has been brought to our attention. We note some inconsistencies.

Accordingly, we find it necessary to make clarifications. Firstly, we do not have any agreement with  the government to suspend the planned strike action. Neither do we have any date for a meeting with the government that may lead to the suspension of the proposed strike.

While we do not intend to demean or minimize the office of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, this matter is beyond the Ministry. This should have been obvious to them during our most recent meeting.

Secondly, while we appreciate the role played by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Barrister Simon Lalong in securing the release of the executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers from unlawful/illegal police detention, we take exception to the Ministry describing these executives as factional leaders.

They were lawfully elected into office. We still find it necessary to advise the police and those elements  behind their travails to desist from this  despicable and shameful conduct. They are advised to retrace their steps.

If democracy is to be of meaning to us, then we should resist the urge or temptation for impunity. Enough is enough.”

Hence, there has been no further agreement on the issue and we await a positive response from the Federal Government concerning a plan to subtle the issues caused in the country at large (fuel price hike) by the removal of subsidy.