NLC Insists on Strike Despite Govt’s Overtures as New Tax Regime Commences

Ahead of tomorrow’s two-day nationwide warning strike marshaled by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), its third since the removal of fuel subsidy in June, public schools, hospitals, seaports, and airports, among other public institutions have expressed readiness to mobilise workers to down tools across the critical sectors.

This is just as about 52 NLC affiliates across the country have stepped up mobilisation for total shutdown, directing their members to commence withdrawal of services over Federal Government’s failure to establish essential structures to address sufferings and hardship in the country.

Insisting that the warning strike would hold as scheduled without the drama of last-minute suspension, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the strike was necessitated as a result of government’s deliberate neglect and disregard to engage relevant stakeholders through the channel of social dialogue.

He said the Federal Government refused to engage and reach an agreement with Organised Labour on critical issues on the consequences of the hike in prices of petroleum, which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian workers and the masses.

Circular on withdrawal of services obtained by The Guardian from some of the affiliates, including the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), National Union of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions (NUBIFIE), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), among others, urged all national, states and chapter executives to begin mobilisation in total compliance.