By Ken Afor
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has said that it has not suspended its planned nationwide strike scheduled for Tuesday, October 3.
This trails speculations that the union had suspended the planned industrial action after a purported meeting with the federal government which the labour union had debunked.
A statement issued by Mr. Benson Upah, Head of Information and Public Affairs for the NLC, on Thursday, said at no time did the union meet with the federal government to discuss suspension of the strike.
He said the government ought to have been aware during their last meeting about the decision of the union concerning the strike.
His words: “Accordingly, we find it necessary to make clarifications. Firstly, we do not have any agreement with the government to suspend the planned strike action.
“Neither do we have any date for a meeting with the government that may lead to suspending the proposed strike.
“While we do not intend to demean or minimize the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment office, this matter is beyond the Ministry.
“This should have been obvious to them during our most recent meeting.”
Although Upah applauded the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Simon Lalong, for release of the executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) from unlawful, illegal detention he noted that they are not factional leaders but were duly elected.
Further according to the NLC spokesman, “We take exception to the ministry describing these executives as factional leaders.
“They were lawfully elected into office. We must still advise the police and those elements behind their travails to resist this despicable and shameful conduct.
“They are advised to retrace their steps. If democracy is to be of meaning to us, then we should resist the urge or temptation for impunity. Enough is enough.”
It would be recalled that on Tuesday, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in a joint statement decided to use their last tool after weeks of negotiations and waiting on the government to show some level of commitment in meeting their demands.
The unions are demanding the implementation of palliatives, tax exemptions and allowances to the public sector workers and a review of the minimum wage among others.
Economic experts have advised the unions and the government to reason together for the sake of the country’s fragile economy.
But from all indications, there seems to be no headway.
