Strike: Again, FG invites NLC

The Federal Government has again invited the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for another meeting over its planned indefinite strike.

This was made known in a statement issued by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, on Sunday night.

Lalong had, on September 4, 2023, invited the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for a meeting to avert the earlier two-day nationwide warning strike.

Only the TUC showed up for the meeting.

Lalong, however, stated that he had directed the Department of Trade Unions Services and Industrial Relations to convene the meeting with the leadership of the NLC on Monday, September 18.

The minister said it was important for the unions to sit with the government to resolve all pending matters to avert further disruption to the economy.

The immediate past governor of Plateau State added: “The administration of President Bola Tinubu will always engage the organised labour and respond to its concerns after due consultation and negotiations.

“This is in order to guarantee industrial harmony which is critical to the attainment of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

It would be recalled that the NLC National Executive Council in a communique on September 1 threatened to embark on an indefinite strike within 21 days of the issuance of the communique.

Among other demands, the NLC and the TUC are asking for wage awards, implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to public sector workers, and a review of the minimum wage.

Though the FG made a commitment to restructure the framework for engagement with organised Labour on palliatives, the eight-week timeframe set for the conclusion of the process expired in August with no action whatsoever.

The committees were given eight weeks to conclude their assignment and hasten the implementation of the framework in cushioning the effect of petrol subsidy removal on Nigerians but weeks after the timeframe expired, the sub-committees had yet to meet or actualise their mandates.

The Star

Segun Ojo