The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has launched an indefinite nationwide strike beginning today, September 22, 2023.
PoliticsNow reports that the strike is in response to the failure of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to meet its objectives, which include the provision of palliatives to mitigate the effects of the withdrawal of the fuel subsidy.
Recall that the NLC initiated a two-day warning strike on September 5 and 6, but the government did not agree to its demands within the permitted 14 days.
According to a statement sent to reporters on September 22 by the union’s Head of Department for Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, the strike is still in effect.
According to Upah, the government has not met any of the union’s demands, and the strike “can start at any time now.”
In addition, he stated that, unlike the two-day warning strike, compliance with the strike will be strictly enforced.
PoliticsNow notes that President Tinubu quickly ended fuel subsidy after taking office as the nation’s leader.
Petrol prices increased as a result of President Tinubu’s move, going from about N186 per litre to more than N600. The increase in commodity prices, coupled with rising costs for food, transportation, and other essentials, has caused more misery for the majority of Nigerians, many of whom are now unable to buy basic necessities.
The Labour Union, however, contacted President Tinubu’s administration in the midst of the price hike to assess the nation’s minimum wage and offer temporary solutions to lessen the effects of the removal of petrol subsidies.
However, the Tinubu-led government has failed to meet the union’s requests, prompting the choice to go on indefinite strike.
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