BREAKING: Labour declares nationwide strike Nov. 14 as NLC, TUC summoned ‘extraordinary’ NEC meeting

Organised labour — including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) — has announced a complete and nationwide strike from Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

The leadership of the two unions came to the resolution after a National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

The meeting’s objectives were to discuss the terms of the strike that was scheduled in response to the brutalisation of NLC National President Joe Ajaero and to review the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed on October 2, 2023, between the Federal Government and organised labour

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had summoned what the unions described as an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting.

The National Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, made this known in an interview with Punch correspondent on Tuesday afternoon.

The aim of the meeting, according to him, is to review the modalities of the planned strike following the brutalisation of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero.

He also said the meeting will give room for the review of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Government and the Organised Labour on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol whic according to him has caused “untold hardship” to Nigerians.

“We will be holding an extraordinary NEC meeting any moment from now. The modalities include the injustice meted upon comrade Ajaero, the planned strike and the MOU signed with the Federal Government. More details will be revealed after the meeting.”

Earlier on Friday, the organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress issued a five-day ultimatum over the arrest and later reease of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.

Recall the organised labour on Friday declared Wednesday, 8th November 2023 a nationwide strike following the Monday’s manhandling of the national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ), Comrade Joe Ajaero in Imo State.

Deputy president of NLC, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, and the deputy president of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) in a joint briefing with journalists in Abuja gave implementation of six-point demands to the federal government to avert the looming strike.

Among the demands include; the immediate removal of the Imo State commissioner of police, area commander, and other state government officials fingered in the alleged brutalisation of Ajaero and other workers who were humiliated in the assault.

Although, the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack.

The Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.

The attack on the labour leader has been condemned by many prominent Nigerians and civil society organisations, including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN).