SAN FRANCISCO, September 14, (THEWILL) – The United Labour Congress has threatened that workers in the country would embark on an indefinite strike if the Federal Government failed to meet its demands by Friday.
The union issued the strike threat after an emergency meeting of its National Administrative Committee, which was held jointly with the National Strike Committee in Lagos.
The Union stated that the response from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to its demands through a letter “largely failed to adequately address the critical issues raised.”
In a statement signed by the ULC President, Joe Ajaero, the union urged Nigerians to take precaution and stock up necessities saying the strike had become necessary having earlier issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.
“The strike will be very effective as we hope to cripple all modes of transportation within the nation; ensure a total blackout nationwide; cut off petroleum product supplies; and disrupt banking operations, which will make life a bit more difficult for Nigerians,” he said.
“We regret these consequences on all of us, but we hope that these measures will help us create a nation that is better governed for the benefits of Nigerian workers and Nigerian masses.
“This course of action, though very painful to us at this time, is the only alternative available to us as we have exhausted all known peaceful processes towards an amicable resolution of the dispute.
“We, therefore, call on all genuine patriots to join hands in solidarity with us to urge the Federal Government and state governors to be kind enough to meet the demands of Nigerian workers and masses.”
The demands of the union include the immediate payment of all arrears of salaries owed workers at all levels of government without exception and an immediate review of the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), among others.
