NLC Denies Agreement to Suspend Planned Strike

 

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) firmly stated that there is no existing agreement with the government to delay its scheduled strike.

This declaration was made by Benson Upah, the Head of Information and Public Affairs at the NLC, in an official statement issued on Tuesday.

In direct response to a statement from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Upah emphasised that the NLC has not set a date for any meeting with the government that might result in postponing the planned strike.

“We do not have any agreement with the government to suspend the planned strike action. Neither do we have any date for a meeting with the government that may lead to the suspension of the proposed strike.

“While we do not intend to demean or minimise the office of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, this matter is beyond the Ministry. This should have been obvious to them during our most recent meeting”.

Also, the NLC raised objections to the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s stance regarding the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

This indicates a dispute within the labour sector over the government’s position on this matter.

“While we appreciate the role played by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Barrister Simon Lalong in securing the release of the executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers from unlawful/illegal police detention, we take exception to the Ministry describing these executives as factional leaders,” it said.

“They were lawfully elected into office. We still find it necessary to advise the police and those elements behind their travails to desist from this despicable and shameful conduct. They are advised to retrace their steps.

“If democracy is to be of meaning to us, then we should resist the urge or temptation for impunity. Enough is enough”.