In a bold move, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is poised to lead Organised Labour in a two-day warning strike set to commence on Tuesday, September 5. The strike is a resounding protest against the Federal Government’s handling of the hardship inflicted by the abrupt removal of the petrol subsidy, attributed to President Bola Tinubu.
The Organised Labour, a collective force comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their affiliate organizations in Nigeria, initially signaled their discontent on August 2 when they staged mass protests against what they termed “anti-people” policies championed by President Tinubu.
Their demonstrations swept across various states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos, Abia, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Zamfara, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kwara, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo.
Prior to this strike, the NLC had issued a stern seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding “the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government,” which encompassed the recent increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), escalated public school fees, and the release of eight months’ withheld salaries of university lecturers and workers.
In a surprising twist, Organised Labour rejected palliative measures and instead insisted on an upward revision of the minimum wage, from the current N30,000 to N200,000.
While the NLC temporarily suspended the widespread protests in August to allow room for further negotiations and reconsideration, President Tinubu has remained unresponsive to calls for a review of the minimum wage or salary increases, despite earlier promises made during election campaigns.
Rather than addressing wage concerns, the President chose to disburse a sum of N5 billion as palliative intervention funds to the 36 states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory. This decision has been met with strong resistance from the NLC, which argues that palliatives cannot serve as a substitute for wage increases, especially in light of the ongoing price hikes and hyperinflation stemming from the fuel subsidy removal.
The looming two-day warning strike is a testament to the growing frustration and discontent among Nigerian workers, who are demanding concrete action to alleviate their financial burdens amid the removal of petrol subsidies. As the strike date approaches, the nation awaits further developments and potential government responses to this labor movement’s resolute stance.
