NLC: No More Last-Minute Meetings to Stave Off Strikes and Protests

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared that it will no longer be available for last-minute negotiation or meetings with the government to stave off planned strikes and protests.

The announcement came after a successful and peaceful national protest held on Tuesday to draw attention to the economic hardship and sufferings of workers and the masses.

During the protest, the NLC commended the performance of security agencies, which it said opened a new visa of observance of democratic ethos by the law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.

However, the NLC deplored the action of the Police in escorting opposing groups to counter labour protests on that day.

The NLC also accused the federal government of attempting to undermine the labour movement by inviting its affiliates to the last negotiation meeting.

In response to the parallel stand taken by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as against that of the NLC, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said there was nothing binding the two labour centres to adopt a common stance on the issues of industrial dispute.

Ajaero said that while the NLC is empowered to act independently, it may decide to collaborate with other unions to achieve a desired target.

He also stated that the NLC still maintains its position that the October 23 agreement with the federal government has not been substantially implemented.

The NLC challenged anyone with a contrary view to come out with empirical evidence of the blow by blow implementation already attained by the government.

It also highlighted that the number of federal workers that have received four months of the wage award were not up to 40 percent of ministries, departments, agencies, and parastatals.

The NLC also questioned whether the agreement on tax relief has been implemented and if the government has followed through on its promise to get the refineries working by December last year.

In addition, it expressed concern over the minimum wage, stating that the law envisaged that the government should kick start negotiation for a new minimum wage six months before the expiration of the existing one.

Civil society activist, Femi Aborishade, also spoke at the Labour House expressing support for the NLC’s action and condemned the intimidating tactics of the present administration, describing it as the worst ever in the history of the country.