NLC, TUC Issues Fresh Warning, Threatens Nationwide Strike From August 14 Over FG’s Contempt Charge

The organised labour has issued a fresh warning that if its leaders are prosecuted with contempt by the federal government through the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), it may announce a nationwide strike.

The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued similar threats earlier yesterday.

Following a meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) yesterday in Abuja, the NLC demanded the immediate withdrawal of what it called “litigious terrorism by the Federal Ministry of Justice before the end of work on Friday, August 11, 2023.”

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In a joint communiqué signed by NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the labour movement threatened to “launch a nationwide comprehensive strike on Monday 14th of August, 2023, if this contemptuous court summons is not withdrawn by whoever initiated it.”

The NLC, on the other hand, affirmed the decision to halt further protests on the nationwide mass demonstration.

According to the communiqué, the NLC would retain the necessary vigilance to hold the government responsible for its assurances and governance in general.

It further claimed that it was committed to the August 19th, 2023, deadline by which the difficulties surrounding the petroleum price increase would be resolved, given the promises of the President and the National Assembly.

While praising the national leadership and all state officers for their effective coordination of the protest, the NLC asked all affiliates and state councils, as well as its civil society supporters, to refrain from future action and to remain focused and eternally watchful.

The labour centre also provided highlights of its meeting with the president on Wednesday, claiming that President Bola Tinubu personally assured action on the employees’ key requests during their closed-door discussion.

It listed the areas to include an immediate restructuring of the framework for engaging the consequences of the petrol price increase in line with the input of labour leaders, assurance that the Port Harcourt Refinery would begin production by December this year, and a pledge to ensure that agreement on the Wage Award for Nigerian workers is reached as soon as possible.

Furthermore, the NLC stated that the president agreed to release a feasible roadmap for the CNG option next week.

Earlier, the NLC and TUC said that if the president failed to summon the Justice Ministry, they would be compelled to reconsider their position and resume the statewide demonstration.

The NLC and TUC had announced the suspension of the nationwide protest during an emergency meeting.