September 17, (THEWILL) – Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, has invited the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for a meeting over its planned indefinite strike.
The Congress, on Tuesday, September 12, had threatened to embark on an indefinite strike “from next week if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands” over the removal of fuel subsidy.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, had on September 2, said its National Executive Committee (NEC) had resolved that workers embarked “on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days until steps are taken by the Government to address the excruciating mass suffering and impoverishment being experienced around the country.”
Labour had, on Tuesday, September 5, embarked on a two-day warning strike to demonstrate readiness for the indefinite strike.
But amid efforts to avert the planned nationwide strike, Lalong, in a statement issued on Sunday, by Olajide Oshundun, Director Information at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has directed the Department of Trade Unions Services and Industrial Relations to convene a meeting with the leadership of the NLC for Monday, 18th September 2023.
According to the Minister, the administration of President Bola Tinubu will always engage “the organised labour and respond to its concerns after due consultation and negotiations in order to guarantee industrial harmony, which is critical to the attainment of the Renewed Hope Agenda”.
