NLC’s Actions Cause Rift with TUC: A Tale of Disregard and Undermining

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has expressed its concerns about being disregarded and undermined by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the wake of nationwide protests against the prevailing economic hardship in Nigeria.

The TUC, which had backed out of the NLC-led protests, said that the decision to hit the streets was not a unanimous one.

The absence of the TUC from the protest led to questions about its position on the issue.

Speaking on the matter, Festus Usifo, the TUC president, stated that the union is not against protests, citing his own involvement in a protest against the brutalisation of the NLC president in Imo.

According to Usifo, the NLC has a history of making decisions without consulting the TUC.

He mentioned three instances when the NLC announced protests without informing the TUC, including a two-day warning strike in September.

In an attempt to mend the relationship, the TUC and NLC agreed to establish communication and mutual respect.

They decided to hold joint National Executive Council (NEC) meetings or develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to outline their working relationship.

However, the NLC’s actions in February 8th, when they had a NEC meeting and took a decision without consulting the TUC, led to the feeling of being undermined once again.

The TUC wrote a letter to the NLC to express their concerns and request the development of an MoU to avoid such situations in the future.

As the two major unions in Nigeria navigate this challenging time, it is essential for them to work together to address the country’s economic issues and ensure that the voices of the Nigerian people are heard.