Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have declared a two-day warning strike, prompting various state chapters of the organised labour union to express their intention to join the industrial action.
Leadership representatives from the state chapters of the labour unions, in separate interviews with our correspondents, have issued directives to their members to participate in the warning strike, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, September 5th and 6th, 2023.
Chairwoman of the NLC Lagos chapter, Agnes Sessi, confirmed on Sunday that Lagos NLC would join the nationwide strike, stating, “We are under the authority of our national leadership, and whatever is decided at the national level is binding on us. So, yes, we are joining the strike.”
Abdullahi Jungle, Chairman of the Sokoto State NLC, also said that the union in the state would mobilise its members to join the two-day warning strike. Jungle stated, “Yes, we are joining the strike, as we are already mobilising our members for the strike. We are holding a meeting today on how to go about it, but I can assure you that we will join the strike.”
The Kano State chapter of the NLC has announced its participation in the planned warning strike and protest called by the national body of the union. State NLC chairman Kabiru Inuwa, who made the declaration in a telephone interview on Sunday, said the decision was made during the National Executive Council meeting in Abuja. Inuwa said, “We are going to join the strike as directed by the national headquarters of our union because we attended the NEC where the decision was reached.”
Similarly, the Ekiti State chapter of the NLC confirmed that its members would participate in the two-day warning strike declared by the national leadership of the union. State chairman Kolapo Olatunde emphasised that members in Ekiti State would join the strike if the Federal Government did not take the necessary steps to avert it.
The General Secretary of the NLC in Gombe State, Ibrahim Fika, stated that they had received notice of the strike and would join it. He mentioned that the union in the state would mobilise its members after the State Executive Council meeting on Monday.
The Niger State chapter of the NLC held a crucial meeting with its affiliate bodies to prepare for the warning strike. The meeting included representatives from various unions, such as the Nigerian Union of Teachers, the Medical and Health Workers Union, the Hotel Workers Union, and civil service unions. The strike details will be presented at a press conference on Monday.
The Bauchi State Chapter of the NLC has also been informed of the strike by its National Secretariat and is prepared to join. State NLC chairman Comrade Shu’aibu Dauda emphasised their readiness to adhere to the directive from the national secretariat.
These state chapters of the NLC are united in their determination to participate in the nationwide warning strike, as instructed by their national leadership. The strike is scheduled to take place on September 5th and 6th, 2023, and aims to address labor-related issues at the national level.