Labour Strike: NLC,TUC Gives 6 Conditions to End Action

ABUJA, (iexclusivenews) – The labour strike that has paralysed the nation since Tuesday is still ongoing, as the organised labour and the government are yet to reach a consensus on the demands of the workers.

The labour strike was triggered by the arrest and brutalisation of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by the police and thugs in Imo State on November 1, 2023.

The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared an indefinite nationwide strike to protest the attack on their leader and other workers in the state.

They have also listed six conditions that must be met before suspending the action.

MORE NEWS:

Organized Labour Begins Nationwide Strike on Tuesday 

Organised Labour Shuts Down Nigeria Over Brutalisation of NLC President

The Six Conditions of Labour

The national leadership of NLC on Wednesday posted on its official X handle the six conditions that the government must fulfil to end the strike. They are:

– The arrest and prosecution of Chinasa Nwaneri, a Special Adviser to the Imo governor on special duties who allegedly led the attack on the NLC president and other workers in the state.

– The arrest, prosecution and dismissal of all police officers as well as thugs involved in the attack on the labour leader.

– The arrest, prosecution and dismissal of the Chief Security Officer in Imo State Government House, simply identified as SP Shaba.

He is accused of leading, participating and providing cover for thugs to brutalise workers in Imo State.

– The arrest, prosecution, and dismissal of an unnamed police area commander who oversaw the brutalisation of the NLC president and other workers in the state.

– The investigation and prosecution of Ahmed Barde, the former Commissioner of Police in Imo State, for his alleged involvement in the assault on the NLC chief.

– The payment of compensation and damages to the NLC president and other workers who were injured in the attack.

The labour union said that these demands are simple and they want justice for their members.

The Meeting with the Government

The organised labour on Wednesday met with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and the government team, including the ministers of Labour and Employment, Simon Bako Lalong, and the Minister of State for Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyeajeocha, at the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA.

The NSA invited the labour leaders to discuss the issue and to appeal to them to call off the strike.

He also disclosed that some persons have been arrested in connection with the brutality meted out to the NLC president.

The President of the TUC, Festus Osifo, who spoke on behalf of labour after the meeting, said that they had a robust conversation and they told the NSA their side of the issue.

He said that the strike was caused by something and the strike is a symptom of the problem.

He also said that they received several assurances from the NSA on what the government is going to do regarding the attack on the NLC president and other demands.

However, he said that the delegation will take every discussion and conversation they have had with the government back to the organs of labour and inform them before a decision can be taken on whether the strike should be called off or not.