NLC give Federal Government till Friday to meet our demands

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) stated Tuesday that the federal government has till Friday to abide by its demands or face further labour unrest.

The government was pleading for more time to address the labour movement’s complaints when this occurred.
The labour movement’s leadership, it was learned during the Ministry of Labour and Employment and NLC meeting, told the government explicitly that no one could accuse it of not providing the government more than enough time to address its demands.

Among the demands are wage awards, tax exemptions and allowances for public sector employees, a decrease in the cost of governance, the provision of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, the release of modalities for N70 billion for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), the release of officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) by the police, and the vacating of occupation by police-backed intruders.

One of the NLC leaders present at the meeting claimed that, among others, NLC President Joe Ajaero expressed hope that the government would accomodate the union’s demands before the 21-day deadline, which was about to expire.

“Exactly, this Friday, September 22, our 21-day ultimatum expires. Recall that on September 1, 2023, we gave the ultimatum. Comrade Ajaero has therefore clearly stated that the administration has till Friday to respond to our demands or risk yet another round of labour unrest.

He referred to the National Union of Road Transport Workers’, or NURTW, “quagmire and requested that the Police and Federal government be called to order to grant the union a reprieve.

“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment (FMLE), which is responsible for handling the NURTW issue, has immediate authority to do so.

“Ajaero responded that nobody can accuse the congress of not giving the government a reasonable amount of time because we have given the government more than enough time to act when the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, who called the meeting, asked for more time from the NLC to address our demands.

“Asking us to grant the government a reasonable amount of time when we have already done so is unfair. He exhorted the minister to take swift action before the ultimatum’s remaining days expired.

The congress cannot adjourn the meeting without accomplishing any of our goals, he told the minister. We won’t suggest to Nigerians that they give the administration a reasonable amount of time given what we have.

“The administration has until Friday to comply with our demands. The NLC will take whatever industrial action it considers necessary after Friday to meet the demands of the moment, the source said.

The Federal Government is dedicated to resolving the legitimate complaints raised by the NLC, according to earlier comments made by Labour Minister Simon Lalong.

Lalong, who was accompanied by Minister of State Nkeiruka Onyejecha, told the NLC that it recognised and valued the crucial part the organisation played in promoting the rights and welfare of workers in the nation. He also pleaded for cooperation and understanding, saying that efforts were being made to address the teething issues.

Ajaero bemoaned the lack of confidence between the government and the NLC in a post-meeting interview with journalists.

He declared: “The strike is a result of a policy that lacks a human face. Prior to the end of the fuel subsidy, there was no strike. The government was the one who told us to ask for painkillers and wages, and we did. Up until now, frustration had resulted in that warning strike.

“CNG, operating refineries, wage awards, and financial transfers are all issues. You want us to meet every day, but of all these agreements, not single one has been addressed by the administration.

“Some of us have been here a while; it is not our job to go on strike; rather, when an agreement is reached, it should be carried out,” one of us said. We brought up the problems of palliative care, pay awards, and the NURTW prior to the warning strike.

Nobody with a weekly income of N30,000 or N60,000 will purchase fuel. All of these issues require answers, and we have identified them. They want for more time each time we finish.

“We granted their request for eight weeks. We granted them their request for four weeks. Again, we are unsure of what to say to our colleagues or members.

The government is dedicated to addressing all of the issues brought up by the NLC in a just and equitable manner, according to Simon Lalong, the minister of labour.

He added that as the government works to meet the expectations of the labour force, it must be careful to strike a balance that fosters economic growth and ensures sustainable progress for the country.

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Lalong went on to say, “We acknowledge the legitimate grievances that have fueled the recent labour crisis, and we are committed to addressing them in a just and equitable manner.”

He expressed gratitude for the NLC’s attendance at the meeting intended to address the current labour problem and foster the nation’s economic development.

“Our nation has recently experienced growing pains, characterised by strikes and other forms of turmoil that have had a negative impact on the economy.

“I appear before you today not just as a representative of the government, but also as a proponent for constructive dialogue, striving to understand your concerns and working side by side to find long-term solutions that benefit all Nigerians,” he continued.