Labour Insists On Indefinite Strike, Condemns FG’s Meeting

The organised labour unions in Nigeria have insisted on embarking on an indefinite strike proposed for the 3rd of October, 2023.

The National Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Tommy Etim, on Wednesday said nothing would stop the strike.

According to Etim, workers in the country are disenchanted with the Federal Government.

Etim further stated that the organised labour unions have given the federal government enough time to address their demands.

He noted that Nigerian workers would not allow themselves to be deceived any longer.

Etim while speaking with Punch said any planned meeting by the Federal Government is pointless and asked Nigerians to brace for the long-drawn walkout.

He said, “The government had been given more than enough time to meet our demands but they did nothing. The strike has been fixed, nothing will stop it and if they (FG) like, they can go to court as usual. The only thing that can stop the strike is if they meet all our demands.”

The labour leader when asked what Nigerians should expect during the industrial action, said, “It will not just be a total shutdown of the nation, it is going to be the mother of all strikes. Do you know that they are even planning to sack 17,000 workers in this period when Nigerians are suffering great hardships?”

Also, a top official of the NLC while speaking on the proposed strike, said, “The issues are straightforward, NLC’s joint communiqué was very clear. NLC has declared an indefinite nationwide strike which is to begin on October 3, 2023, and nothing will make us not start unless the government does everything we have said they should do.”

Asked if the unions would shelve their plan if invited to a meeting by FG, the union leader noted, “No meeting or promise that would make us stop; the only thing that would make us stop is the fulfilment of all those demands, nothing else.”