On Thursday, the Nigerian Labor Congress, or NLC, denied making any agreements with the federal government to put an end to the proposed indefinite strike, which was set to start on October 3.
Recall that on Tuesday, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, or TUC, announced that workers would continue on an indefinite strike because the government had not offered any palliatives to lessen the impact of the removal of the gasoline subsidy.
Some media outlets reported that Mr. Olajide Oshundun, the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s Director of Press, had stated that the government and organized labor had reached an understanding to put the planned strike on hold.
The NLC asserted that there was no agreement at all and that the government had not extended an invitation to the union or set a date for a meeting to discuss the proposed strike, even though Oshundun later denied making such claims.
NLC in a statement issued by its Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, said, “The press statement issued by the Director of Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Olajide Oshundun on our proposed strike action and illegal occupation of the secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers has been brought to our attention. We note some inconsistencies.
“Accordingly, we find it necessary to make clarifications. Firstly, we do not have any agreement with the government to suspend the planned strike action. Neither do we have any date for a meeting with government that may lead to the suspension of the proposed strike.
“While we do not intend to demean or minimise the office of the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, this matter is beyond the Ministry. This should have been obvious to them during our most recent meeting.
“Secondly, while we appreciate the role played by the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Barrister Simon Lalong in securing the release of the executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers from unlawful/illegal police detention, we take exception to the Ministry describing these executives as factional leaders.
“They were lawfully elected into office. We still find it necessary to advise the police and those elements behind their travails to desist from this despicable and shameful conduct. They are advised to retrace their steps.
“If democracy is to be of meaning to us, then we should resist the urge or temptation for impunity. Enough is enough.”
