On Tuesday night, the Nigeria Labour Congress advised Nigerians to disregard any news suggesting a potential suspension of its scheduled nationwide strike set to begin on Wednesday.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, in a brief statement signed by its national president, Joe Ajaero, affirmed that the protests would proceed as planned in major cities across the country.
The Secretary-General of the NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, had earlier briefed journalists at the State House, stating that the Congress might reconsider its position on the proposed strike action. This statement sparked controversies, and news of a potential suspension of the strike spread across the country.
The NLC made this charging statement on the official Twitter handle of the NLC @NLCheadquarters reads, “Ignore fake rumours, NLC is never divided. We are one united and strong labour centre. The protest rally will be held Tomorrow (Wednesday), nationwide.”
Earlier, Ajaero, in a chat with our newsmen noted that the NLC had no reason to suspend its proposed strike.
“We have no reasons to call off the planned protest. If we suspend or call it off, you will know. I can tell you that the mobilisation is very high,” Ajaero said.
Titus Amba, a deputy vice-president of the NLC, stated that there have been no new developments following President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast on Monday evening.
GOVIMA had earlier reported that a move by the labour leaders to embark on strike was resisted by the government with a court order obtained by the Federal Ministry of Justice barring the unions from embarking on strike.
Presently, the NLC is demanding an immediate reversal of all “unfriendly” policies as initiated by the Tinubu government such as as the hike in the price of petrol, immediate inauguration of the presidential steering committee, an increase in public school fees, the release of the eight-month withheld salaries of university lecturers and workers and an increase in Value-Added Tax, among others as bone of contention while its TUC counterpart said it had given the government a two- week ultimatum following which it would take “solid actions.”