Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Declares Nationwide Strike

Labour declares nationwide strike Nov 14, if Federal Government Fail To Meet Demands

Because of the attack on NLC President Joe AJaero and other labor leaders last Wednesday, leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) announced yesterday that they will go on an urgent and complete strike in Imo State starting today.

In addition, they have decided that if their demands are not fulfilled by Tuesday, November 14, they will initiate a nationwide strike.

Following their combined National Executive Council (NEC) meeting yesterday, the TUC and NLC issued a communique directing all employees and affiliates to guarantee complete compliance.

The announcement states that all aircraft entering and leaving Imo State, as well as the supply of gasoline and electricity, must be halted right away.

Outstanding wage arrears, the unfair designation of 11,000 workers as ghost employees, unpaid gratuities, noncompliance with the N30,000 Minimum Wage Act, and the designation of 10,000 pensioners as ghost retirees are among their complaints.

The NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, was abducted and assaulted. The disturbing occurrence was discussed at the joint NEC meeting, according to a communiqué signed by the TUC President, Festus Osifo, and NLC Deputy President, Prince Adewale Adeyanju.

The press release stated: “The council also discussed the horrifying acts of violence and bloodshed that were inflicted upon him and other employees, who had gathered at the NLC Imo State secretariat in accordance with the Imo State directive.”

“The Imo State government carried out these activities in coordination with the Nigerian police and with the governor’s approval.

The Joint NEC-in-session unanimously denounced Hope Uzodimma, his henchmen, and the Nigerian police for their acts in the strongest possible terms.

In light of this, the combined NLC/TUC NEC-in-session noted that the Imo State government, led by Hope Uzodimma, continues to violate the rights and privileges of its workforce, and that the decision to launch an industrial action in the state was entirely consistent with its previous resolution.

“The government has consistently broken agreements, most notably the deal between the government and organized labor that was made on January 9, 2021.

Remarkably, some employees have experienced a startling 20 months without receiving their salaries due to the baseless accusation that they are “ghost workers.”

“About 11,000 devoted workers have unfairly been labeled as ghost workers and had their pay withheld, all the while performing their jobs with diligence.

“The NLC state secretariat’s wanton destruction is a flagrant assault on workers’ rights and a breach of the sacredness of their representative body.

“It is an affront to fair labor practices to introduce discriminatory pay practices and impose apartheid-like policies in determining monthly payments.”

“The administration has shown a flagrant disdain for the rights of people who have devoted their careers to serving the public by failing to address the eight-year backlog of gratuities owed to retirees.

“The government has consistently absconded from its responsibility to enforce the N30,000 National Minimum Wage, an essential measure to protect workers’ financial security.

The government’s witch hunt for Labour

“The government’s frightening attack on the ability to represent and defend workers’ rights is the result of its witch hunts targeting trade union leaders under different pretenses.

“It is an abhorrent practice that violates workers’ democratic rights to continue using thugs and violence against workers and their leaders.

The unlawful diversion and impoundment of union dues, which are legitimately union funds, constitutes a flagrant infringement upon employees’ rights to oversee their group assets.

almost 10,000 retirees have been mistakenly classified as “ghost pensioners,” which has caused almost 22 months of unpaid benefits and, regrettably, resulted in fatalities.

“There is a culture of dread and uncertainty among the entire workforce due to the frequent threats of violence and sacking.

“The government is insulting the fundamentals of fair labor practices by continuing to oppose the use of social dialogue and collective bargaining as tools of negotiation.

“A transparent attempt to force preferred candidates on the workers, undermining their democratic rights, as demonstrated by the violent interruption and meddling with the Imo State delegates’ conference.”

According to the press release, “as guaranteed by our existing labor laws and the constitution, workers had gathered to peacefully protest these infractions by the governor at the NLC secretariat in Imo State.”

“The Imo NLC secretariat’s facilities were stormed by a gang of thugs led by its special assistant (SA), who received backup from the police. The group of thugs caused injuries, stole personal belongings, and caused damage.

“After being brutalized, blindfolded, and kidnapped by the police, the NLC president was brought to an undisclosed location where he endured additional abuse and humiliation;

  As of this session, the government has not complied with the demands made by the TUC and NLC.

“The persistent use of violence and impunity in negotiating rights and interests against all known democratic and social dialogue guidelines within the nation’s socioeconomic space.”

The press release stated that as a result, the NLC/TUC NEC-in-Session decided to mandate Imo State’s immediate shutdown and service withdrawal starting at midnight on Tuesday.

It is expected of all employees and affiliates to guarantee compliance from their current location.  When appropriate, all aircraft entering and leaving Imo State should be grounded, as should the supply of gasoline and power.

All employees, both public and private, must put down their tools immediately and permanently.  Workers across the federation will unite to withdraw their services by Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at midnight, if our demands remain unfulfilled. The announcement stated, “By virtue of this resolution, all state councils of NLC & TUC and affiliates are mandated to ensure full compliance with NEC’s decision.”