Nationwide Strike Begins Tomorrow, Says NLC, TUC
By Fredrick Wright
Nigerian workers under the umbrella of Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria have been directed to withdraw their services nationwide from midnight on November 14, 2023.
TUC President Festus Osifo disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday.
Osifo said the strike would remain until “governments at all levels wake up to their responsibility.”
The strike is also to protest the battery of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and some other executives of the congress in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1, as well as the pending labour issues in Imo State.
Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of a state-wide protest in Imo, as disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.
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, accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.
However, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has immediately instructions the port workers to down tool from tomorrow.
The head of media of the Union, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, said the NLC and TUC took this decision after their joint meeting in Abuja, which was prompted by a series of infractions and encroachments of the rights of workers, and the distressing incidents involving the abduction and assault on the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and other Unions Officials.
Others reasons, according to him are; the continued refusal of government to implement agreements, non-payment of backlog of salaries, pensions, descriminatory payment of salaries and non-compliance to national minimum wage.
The statement added that,”As an affiliate of the NLC, the MWUN is geared to commence the nationwide strike as directed by the NLC”.
