The federal government has called on the organized labor to a meeting to stop the planned national strike starting from 3rd October 2023 announced by the National Labor Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC on Tuesday.
The two Union declared an indefinite strike to protest the alleged failure of the FG to provide post-subsidy palliatives for workers. The Ministry of Labor, Employment and Productivity has also assured Nigerians it would meet with the leadership of the unions before they shut down the economy.
However, the declaration of the industrial action did not go down well with the Organized Private Sector of Nigeria, which has warned the FG and labor of its wider implication on the economy.
The OPSN, in a statement, emphasized that the economy cannot afford a nationwide strike at a time like this, and called on the Federal Government and the labor unions to work hand-in-hand to avert the looming disruption of socio-economic activities in the country.
PUNCH reports that, the spokesperson for the labor ministry, Olajide Oshundun, said the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, would be centered on the pronouncements that would be made by President Bola Tinubu during his October 1st Independence Day broadcast.
“Oshundun disclosed in an interview with one of our correspondents, that the two major demands from the unions had been presented to the government”, PUNCH reports.
He said, “We will avert the strike. We got the news of their intention to go on strike. They need to be rest assured that there will be a pronouncement in the October 1 speech of Mr. President for Nigerian workers.
‘’The ministry is working assiduously to meet with the second aspect of the demand which focuses on the wage award. We have already secured the release of the NURTW factional chairman.
‘’So we hope to invite them on Tuesday following the pronouncement of the president to see reasons for them to call off the strike.”
Justifying the decision to proceed on strike at the virtual meeting of the National Executive Committee of the NLC held on Tuesday afternoon, Ajaero said the FG had failed to reverse its anti-poor policies characterized by the removal of fuel subsidy earlier this year.