Fed Govt/ NLC Meeting Ends In Deadlock

NLC's protest 

By Favour & Akinola Ajibade

Nigeria's economy may worsened further, in the event that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) embark on indefinite strike action. 

Reason being that the development could lead to an unprecedented economic consequences for the country, especially  its over 200 million people. who are struggling to survive. 

Recently, the meeting  between the Federal Government and NLC on the issue of improving welfares of the workers ended in a deadlock, a development, which implies that  labour union can make real its threat to embark on indefinite strike actioetween 

Of note was inability of the government and NLC to reach agreement on how to avert the strike, before it starts. 

Recall the the  Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong; and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, met with the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and other leaders in Abuja in an effort to stop organised labour from embarking on another industrial action.

The meeting is expected to continue at a later date.

The impasse followed Lalong’s invitation to the NLC for a meeting in light of the union’s planned nationwide strike owing to the removal of fuel subsidies and the hardship in the country.

Earlier, the minister invited the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for talks to avert the two-day strike held between September 5 and 6.

However, “only the TUC showed up for the meeting,” the ministry added.

At the meeting on Monday,  the minister promised to partner with organised labour to address the demands of the labour unions in a just and balanced way.

He appealed to the labour leaders to be realistic and frank in the discussions.

He also expressed optimism that the meeting would lead to a resolution that is of national interest.

Responding, the  NLC President, Joe Ajaero said his team was in the meeting with mixed feelings, to find out whether “something will happen or not,” as many similar meetings in the past had failed to yield a positive response.

He further noted that the past strikes that the minister referred to were a result of the frustration Nigerian workers faced due to the effects of the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidies.

According to him, not one of the agreements with the Federal Government was addressed despite a series of meetings that were held.

Ajaero also vehemently condemned the invasion of the office of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), with some of its leaders arrested and detained.

According to him, that action alone is enough for the NLC to proceed with their planned strike.

He stated that nearly four months after ending the fuel subsidy regime, the government has failed to do the needful.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)  criticised the Federal Government over its failure to meet the demands of the union, which is gearing up to embark on an indefinite strike in light of economic hardships in the country.

Among its demands are to address the consequences of petrol price hikes, review the minimum wage, provide a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative, fix the country’s refineries, and pay lecturers’ salary arrears.

The ultimatum terminates at the end of the week.

Hours after a second meeting with the Federal Government ended in a deadlock on Monday, NLC President Joe Ajaero made a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he underscored the union’s frustration.

“We agree that the Federal Government has had more than enough time for the past four months and that even if there is a commitment, between now and the next four days, issues will be resolved,” he said.

“And we hope that the minister [Simon Lalong] will work with us within these next few days to make sure we resolve the problem.”

Asked to confirm negotiations will resume on Tuesday, the labour leader said if invited, the NLC will attend.

On the backing out of the Trade Union Congress from the strike action, he said, a trade union cannot pull out of an industrial action it did not initiate, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said Monday in response to a refusal of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to participate in a two-day warning strike two weeks ago.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today, hours after a meeting between the Federal Government and the NLC to avert an indefinite strike ended in a deadlock.

Among its demands are to address the consequences of petrol price hikes, review the minimum wage, provide a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative, fix the country’s refineries, and pay lecturers’ salary arrears.

Shortly after that deliberation, the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, went into a separate meeting with the TUC. Both unions have held separate engagements with the Federal Government since the warning strike earlier this month.

“From what you can see from our last warning strike, you see that we can do it alone,” Ajaero said.

Asked if the NLC does not need the TUC, Ajaero stated, “We can work independently; we can work jointly when we agree.

“But the NLC will not take under our watch if we give a strike notice and then a union that didn’t give a strike notice says they are backing out of a strike that they didn’t call for.”

The NLC president argued that any union could give its strike notice.

“TUC can give their strike notice and go ahead with their notice. NLC can give their strike notice and go ahead with their notice,” he said.

Ajaero however stated that if TUC gives a strike notice, the NLC would not say it is not a part of it “because they didn’t even say they were part of it in the first instance”.

According to him, those are things being streamlined.

“And I think that maybe the ministry is enjoying it,” he added.