By Ken Afor
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced that their long awaited strike will commence from October 3, 2023.
This was disclosed,Tuesday, in a joint press conference by the leadership of the two unions, Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC and Festus Osifo, President of the TUC in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The two unions have urged their members across the 36 states of the federation to mobilise support for the industrial action.
It would be recalled earlier in the month that the NLC had embarked on a two-day warning strike after talks between it and the government failed due to the government’s inability to meet the demands of the unions.
The unions had tabled their demands to the government following the removal of subsidy on petrol in May which has negatively impacted the living conditions of millions of Nigerian workers, artisans and traders in every sector of the country.
Prior to the announcement of the strike today, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, had appealed to the leadership of the organised labour to shelve the planned industrial action promising to intervene.
The Speaker while appealing to the leadership of the union on Tuesday during plenary said the government is doing its best in addressing the economic hardship caused by the removal of subsidy.
Although, some state governments have rolled out palliative programme to cushion the effect of the economic.
The states including Lagos, Ogun, Abia among others had increased the salaries of state workers.
