NLC, TUC suspend workers’ indefinite nationwide strike
The Joint National Executive Council (NEC) of the two leading labour unions the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Wednesday night, announced the suspension of the industrial action at the end of a meeting Wednesday evening.
Nigeria’s organised labour said the suspension followed the intervention of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu who earlier in a statement on Wednesday appealed to the labour unions to call off the strike to give room for negotiations.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting with the NSA on Wednesday, TUC president, Festus Osifo, said the federal government, through Mr Ribadu, had given assurance to meet their demands.
The labour unions in a joint statement on Wednesday signed by the NLC, General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, and the TUC, General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, said: “This suspension is intended to facilitate further discussions after the federal government had met our crucial demands to address the distressing abduction and brutalization of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and others.
The unions noted that an apology was tendered on behalf of the government by the NSA, who promised to coordinate the investigation.
“Some of the perpetrators have been arrested, and we were given high assurances that all others will be fished out and prosecuted.
“High-powered investigation is currently being carried out and the leadership of the labour centres will be briefed continuously as progress is being made.
The development came a few hours after the labour leaders listed six demands and subsequently met with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
In their demand list which they released Wednesday, the labour unions demanded that justice be done with respect to Mr Ajaero’s attack for the strike to be called off.
Among their six requests were demands for investigation, prosecution and dismissal of government and police officials involved in the attack on Mr Ajaero.
The NLC, TUC and their affiliates had declared the strike against the background of the attack on the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on 1 November.
Recall the NLC president was attacked and brutalised while preparing to lead a protest against the Imo State government over alleged non-payment of civil servants’ salaries for months and inhumane treatment of some government workers in the state.
“The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration,” Zakari Mijinyawa, the NSA’s spokesperson said in a statement.
