The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) denied on Thursday that it had reached any agreement with the Federal Government to suspend the indefinite strike scheduled to start on October 3.
Early this week, the organized labor unions, including the NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), declared on Tuesday that workers would initiate an indefinite strike due to the government’s failure to offer relief measures addressing the impact of the petrol subsidy removal.
Some media outlets reported that Mr. Olajide Oshundun, the Director of Press at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, claimed that organized labor and the government had reached an agreement to suspend the planned strike.
Despite Oshundun’s denial of making such a statement, the NLC emphasized that there has been no agreement and the government has not extended an invitation or proposed a meeting date to discuss the impending strike.
According to a statement released by Benson Upah, the Head of Information and Public Affairs for the NLC, “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 a 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.”