Strike, Labour Unions Ignore Federal Government In Aso Rock

The leaders of organised Labour refused to show up at a meeting with the Federal Government. The meeting which was called to avert the strike that has been scheduled to start on Tuesday next week.

The meeting would have  taken place at 3 pm on Friday inside the chief of staff’s office to the president at the presidential villa in Abuja.

It was gathered that, by 5.30 pm, no members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had turned up even though the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, was waiting.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had directed their affiliate bodies to commence the nationwide industrial action on October 3, saying it would be a total shutdown of the system until the government takes steps to attend to their demands.

The unions had posited in a joint statement on September 26: “It’s going to be a total shutdown…until the government meets the demand of Nigerian workers, and in fact Nigerian masses.

The Federal Government has refused to meaningfully engage and reach agreements with organised Labour on critical issues of the result of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol, which has caused huge suffering on Nigeria workers and masses.”

No reason was given why labour rescinded or if the meeting has been rescheduled for another date. (Nigerian Tribune)