The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have directed their members to commence a nationwide strike starting from 12 a.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

The latest development is coming after the court order obtained by the Federal government to stop the NLC and TUC from embarking on strike in protest of the attack on the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State.

The TUC President, Festus Osifo, who addressed newsmen of the unions’ decision to cripple the country in Abuja on Monday, said the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility”.

Osifo said: “We demanded that the Area Commander that led the police to carry out the brutalisation should be relieved his duties and prosecuted.

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“We asked also that Governor Hope Uzodimma’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Chinasa Nwaneri, who everyone knew led the touts should also be arrested and prosecuted. Our list of demands is in the public domain.

“We gave an ultimatum that initially expired Wednesday last week. But on the eve of that expiration, we had a joint session of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria. We looked at the time we gave and felt as responsible pan Nigeria organisations, that we should give additional one week to see if the government will be responsive.

“And in order to further draw the attention of government we had the picketing session last week Thursday but instead if government to come out strongly to condemned this criminality, instead of government to speak and stand on the side of justice, some people in government were rather running their mouth and making all kinds of statement.

“So the two labour centres have resolved to stand firmly by the decision of the joint National Executive Council meeting that was held last week Tuesday, that effective from 12 midnight on the 14th of November, we shall declare a nationwide strike. So effective midnight today, a nationwide strike is going to commence.

“All affiliates of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and Nigeria Labour Congress, all State Councils of the two labour centres have been mobilized adequately. And this is going to be indefinite until government at all levels wake up to their responsibility. This is the decision of the joint NEC of NLC and TUC and we are got to carry it out to the later.”

The Star