The leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) opted not to attend a meeting convened by the Nigerian Government on Friday. This meeting was an attempt to avert the impending nationwide strike set for October 3. Both labour unions emphasised that the government’s invitation arrived late, as they had previously committed to engagements outside of Abuja, the nation’s capital.
In a joint statement released on September 26, the unions asserted, “It’s going to be a total shutdown… until the government meets the demand of Nigerian workers, and in fact, the Nigerian masses. The federal government has refused to meaningfully engage and reach agreements with organised Labour on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol, which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian workers and the masses.”
The Federal government of Nigeria has come under criticism for failing to engage meaningfully and reach consensus with organised labour on the far-reaching implications of the unfortunate surge in petrol prices, which has inflicted widespread hardship on Nigerian workers and the general populace.
The government hastily summoned an emergency meeting with the leaders of the NLC and TUC in a last-ditch effort to persuade organised labour and its allies to reconsider the impending industrial action.
Originally slated for Friday at noon in the Aso Villa Conference Room in the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President, the meeting was subsequently postponed to the evening. This change was made to accommodate the leaders of the NLC and TUC, who were located outside Abuja at the time.
As of now, it remains unclear why the NLC and TUC leaders declined the invitation, and whether the meeting will be rescheduled for a later date is yet to be determined.