The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced an indefinite nationwide strike action, starting from Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
The decision was made after an emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, where the labour unions reviewed the situation of the country and the welfare of the workers.
The strike action is a response to the recent attack on the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday, ahead of a planned state-wide protest.
The labour unions condemned the brutalisation of Ajaero and demanded the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state and the arrest and prosecution of the government aide who allegedly orchestrated the attack.
The strike action is also a protest against the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which the labour unions said has caused “untold hardship” to Nigerians.
The labour unions expressed dissatisfaction with the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Government and the organised labour on October 2, 2023, following the subsidy removal.
The labour unions said the government has failed to implement the agreed measures to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal on the masses.
The attack on the labour leader has been condemned by many prominent Nigerians and civil society organisations, including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN). They urged the government to respect the rights of the workers and the citizens and address their grievances.
The strike action is expected to paralyse economic and social activities across the country, as the labour unions have directed their members and affiliates to withdraw their services and join the protest.
The labour unions have also called on Nigerians to show solidarity and support the strike action until their demands are met.
