The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, today commences a two-day warning strike calling out its members nationwide to shun work.
This follows IT’s decision to shun a meeting with the Federal Government over increasing hardship and suffering across the country caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.
This was just as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, yesterday warned that the strike will worsen the plights of ordinary Nigerians and urged NLC to shelve the action.
The NLC had on Friday, given notice of a two-day warning strike to protest the excruciating mass suffering and impoverishment experienced around the country, threatening a total and indefinite shutdown of the economy within 14 working days or 21 days after the warning strike, if government did not take steps to address the hardship experienced across the country.
While briefing on Friday after its NEC’s meeting, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said: “NEC in session of NLC resolved to embark on a total and indefinite shutdown of the nation within 14 working days or 21 days from today until steps are taken by the government to address the excruciating mass suffering and the impoverishment experienced around the country.”
Already, the organised labour in August staged a one-day protest, which grounded activities in major cities across the country.
While listing other reasons why it would mobilize its members for the nationwide shutdown, the NLC accused the police of laying siege at the national headquarters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers; alleged exploitation of the rights of workers in Imo state; interference in trade union matters by the Abia State government and proposed demolition by the new minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, among others.