The Bola Tinubu-led government’s failure to carry out the agreements reached on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the Premium Motor Spirit, or gasoline, subsidy, has resulted in the Nigeria Labour Congress and its counterpart, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, issuing a 14-day nationwide strike notice to the Federal Government.
Despite organized labor’s attempts to maintain industrial peace, the government appears unaffected by the widespread misery and adversity in the nation, according to leaders of the NLC and TUC.
The accord on October 2 was centered around tackling the severe socioeconomic ramifications and widespread suffering caused by the poorly planned and poorly implemented increase in PMS prices and devaluation of the naira, which was instigated by the IMF and World Bank.
The unions stated in a statement on Thursday that “these dual policies have had, as we predicted, dire economic consequences for the masses and workers of Nigeria.”
Speaking further, the unions lamented that “it is regrettable that we are compelled to resort to such measures, but the persistent neglect of the welfare of citizens and Nigerian workers and the massive hardship leave us with no choice.
Effective February 9 (tomorrow), among others, the two labour unions said, “Constrained by this development and recognizing the urgency of the situation and the imperative of ensuring the protection and defence of the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers and citizens, the NLC and TUC hereby issue a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government to honour their part of the understanding within 14 days from tomorrow, the 9th day of February 2024.”