The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has thrown its weight behind the planned strike of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), saying workers have been sleeping in offices due to hardship in the country.
The LP added that Nigerian workers are being punished by the federal government for taking a stand during the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
The NLC and TUC had, on Tuesday, announced that they would commence an indefinite strike on October 3, 2023, over hardship in the country following the removal of petrol subsidy.
Following the removal of fuel subsidy and the accompanied economic hardship, the unions had demanded sustainable minimum wage and palliatives to Nigerians.
Speaking on the development, the LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, in a statement on Wednesday, September 27, said the federal government has been insensitive to the plight of the workers.
Ifoh added that Nigerian workers have shown enough patience and understanding.
The LP spokesperson stated: “We have followed with keen interest, in the last four months, various meetings between Organized Labour and various government bodies including the President of the Senate, the presidency, and the ministers of Labour as well as all the efforts made by the Labour leadership to get the government understand the magnitude of sufferings government policies have thrown Nigerian Workers and the entire populace into since the enthronement of this administration.
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“Labour Party is not in any way surprised at the government’s apparent indifference, insensitivity, intransigence, and recalcitrant posture towards the genuine demands of the Labour bodies because their usurpation of power was not sanctioned by both the workers and generality of Nigerians.
“Nigerians went to the polls with clear conviction of the government they wanted but this was denied them through institutional conspiracy.
“Today, Nigerian workers are being punished for taking a stand during the February 25 Presidential Election.
“Labour Party is also aware of the sordid conditions which workers, the majority of them being our members, are subjected to, whereby many of them go to the office on a Monday and are forced by the prevailing economic challenges, to sleep in their offices all through to Friday before they return home.
“Labour Party is surprised that the government claimed that it has removed subsidies on Petroleum products and that it now generates over a trillion naira monthly, yet it finds it difficult to address workers’ demands.
“Daily, Nigerians are subjected to harsh economic realities where the inflation rate is nearing 30 percent, where a dollar is sold above N1000, and where par-capital income has depreciated. Many families are withdrawing their wards from schools over a hike in school fees, while criminal activities are surging daily.
“We think that the Nigerian workers have shown enough patience and understanding.
“We are also using this medium to inform all our members and supporters to stock their homes with their necessary needs ahead of a long-drawn mass action until victory is ascertained. No retreat, no surrender.”
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