Barring any change in stance, Nigeria may soon be thrown into
darkness should electricity workers, on the platform of National Union
of Electricity Employees, NUEE, make good of threats to join the
impending nationwide strike.
Financial Watch learnt the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural
Gas Workers, NUPENG, yesterday said loading of products, including
aviation fuel, would stop from today as affiliates of United Labour
Congress of Nigeria, ULC, begin an indefinite strike.
The industrial action is fresh move by the United Labor Congress,
ULC, a union that seeks to act as umbrella for both NLC and TUC.
However, leaders of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial
Employees, NUBIFIE, said members may not effectively join the strike
today because the union just concluded its delegates conference weekend,
warning, however, that members would fully join should the strike
persist.
But the Nigerian Labor Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress,
TUC, insisted yesterday that the ULC was fake, since it was not
recognized by government, and urged Nigerians to ignore the group.
Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Labour also held on to its
earlier position that the ULC was not recognized by the Federal
Government.
The Presidency, through the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said last night that the
Presidency stands by the Labour Minister’s position that the ULC is not
recognized by the Federal Government.