The Federal Government is holding talks with labor unions at the presidential palace in Abuja, the capital, in an effort to prevent a nationwide strike on October 3.
The meeting, convened at the request of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, is currently being attended by several ministers.
Last Tuesday, the organized labor, represented by the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), announced their intention to initiate an indefinite strike on October 3.
Furthermore, the unions called upon their respective state chapters to mobilize for nationwide protests after resolving their internal differences, which had previously led to only the NLC conducting a two-day warning strike without the involvement of the TUC.
Two days later, the National Executive Council, under the leadership of Vice President Kashim Shettima, issued an appeal to the organized labor, requesting them to postpone their planned strike.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, held a press briefing last Thursday at the Presidential Villa, where he made an appeal to the leadership of organized labor. He requested them to exercise patience with the Federal Government and allow more time for constructive dialogue.
Mutfwang also revealed that the well-being of Nigerian workers would be one of the topics addressed by President Bola Tinubu in his upcoming Independence Day broadcast to the nation on Sunday.
In response to the National Executive Council’s appeal, the President’s Chief of Staff convened a meeting aimed at resolving the ongoing industrial dispute with organized labor.
It is anticipated that the workers will reconsider their decision to go on strike, with the aim of avoiding any disruptions to the nation’s economic activities.