JUSTIN: NLC Declares Two-Day Nationwide Warning Strike September 5, Threatens To Embark On 21-Day Total Shutdown Aftermath

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on September 5, 2023 will initiate a two-day warning strike in anticipation of a total shutdown that will start in 21 days.

The choice was made at the conclusion of its National Executive Council meeting, which took place early on Friday morning.

READ ALSO: NLC Debunks Fake News, Says ‘No Going Back On Planned Strike’

According to a communique issued by the labour centre and jointly signed by its national president Joe Ajaero and secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, the decision was made as a result of the Tinubu government’s failure to engage organised labour stakeholders in dialogue and attempt to mitigate the effects of the removal of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit, more commonly known as petrol, on the “poor masses.”

The organised workforce had already coordinated a one-day demonstration in August that shut down operations in significant cities all around the nation.

The centre listed a number of additional reasons why it would organise its members for the nationwide strike, including the Nigeria Police’s alleged siege of the National Union of Road Transport Workers’ national headquarters, the alleged exploitation of workers’ rights in Imo State, the Abia State Government’s interference in trade union affairs, and the proposed demolition by the new Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Regarding the decisions it made, the NLC NEC decided to “start a total and indefinite shutdown of the country within 14 working days or 21 days from today until efforts are taken by the government to alleviate the excruciating mass suffering and poverty being faced throughout the nation.

“To commence a two-day nationwide warning strike on Tuesday & Wednesday the 5th & 6th of September, 2023 to demonstrate our readiness for the indefinite strike later in the month and to also demand that the state vacates the illegally occupied National Headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers;

“To embark on a mass protest and rally in Imo State within this month of September 2023 in preparation for a major shutdown of the state to compel the state government to stop the abuse and violation of the rights and privileges of workers and trade unions in the state;

“To call on communities around the nation to stop taking the law into their own hands but report to the authorities for amicable resolution any matter involving members of the Amalgamated Union of Food Stuffs and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria which is one of our affiliates;

“To demand that the new Minister of the Federal Capital Territory desists from threatening poor masses in the FCT with demolition of their properties built from their years of toil but should focus more on making houses available to the people. He is not a Minister of Demolition and should be prepared to meet Nigerian workers and citizens on the street if he carries out his insensitive utterances.”