The United Labour Congress on Wednesday threatened that workers in
the country would embark on an indefinite strike if the Federal
Government failed to meet its demands by Friday (tomorrow).
The threat came barely two weeks after the Federal Ministry of
Labour and Employment responded to the workers through a letter, which
the ULC said “largely failed to adequately address the critical issues raised in our demands.”
The union issued the strike threat after an emergency meeting of
its National Administrative Committee, which was held jointly with the
National Strike Committee in Lagos.
In a statement signed by the President, ULC, Joe Ajaero, the union
urged Nigerians to take precaution and stock up necessities, saying,
“The
strike will be very effective as we hope to cripple all modes of
transportation within the nation; ensure a total blackout nationwide;
cut off petroleum product supplies; and disrupt banking operations,
which will make life a bit more difficult for Nigerians.
“We regret these consequences on all of us, but we hope that
these measures will help us create a nation that is better governed for
the benefits of Nigerian workers and Nigerian masses.”
Ajaero said that the strike had become necessary having earlier
issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government as a result of the
decision of the Central Working Committee meeting of the congress on
August 22, which expired on September 8, 2017.
He said that in view of the government’s rejection of the demands
within the 14-day ultimatum, the ULC ordered an immediate issuance of a
seven-day final strike notice, which would expire on Friday.
He added,
“This course of action, though very painful to us at
this time, is the only alternative available to us as we have exhausted
all known peaceful processes towards an amicable resolution of the
dispute.
“We, therefore, call on all genuine patriots to join hands in
solidarity with us to urge the Federal Government and state governors to
be kind enough to meet the demands of Nigerian workers and masses.”
The demands of the union include the immediate payment of all
arrears of salaries owed workers at all levels of government without
exception.
Ajaero added that other demands were that
“The Federal
Government honours its 2009 agreement with university lecturers under
the umbrella of ASUU quickly and commences negotiations with them on new
issues so that our universities will re-open.
“The roads leading to all the petroleum refineries and depots
nationwide be repaired by the government to avoid the present carnage,
wastage of products and properties on these roads.
“That the government should demand that the Federal Ministry of
Labour and Employment set up a task force immediately to carry out
factory inspections as most of our factories are death traps.”
The workers are also demanding an immediate review of the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, among others.