Fresh strike action looms as NLC threatens to boycott meeting with FG if…

Fresh strike action looms as NLC threatens to boycott meeting with FG if…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared its intent to boycott a scheduled meeting with the Federal Government on Monday, October 30, 2023, in the event that the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, participates.

The President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, voiced this ultimatum during a press conference in Abuja on Sunday. He had earlier briefed journalists on the challenges faced by workers in Imo State.

Ajaero criticized Lalong for his failure to establish a harmonious rapport with organized labor.

“We may possibly convene a meeting with the Federal Government tomorrow (Monday) to assess compliance with the agreements pertaining to the fuel subsidy removal palliatives,” Ajaero remarked. “However, I must make it clear that the Minister of Labour and Employment will be excluded from this meeting, as we refuse to engage with the Federal Government in his presence.”

The ongoing negotiations between labor unions and the government revolve around the impending industrial action following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

In addition to this development, Ajaero issued a stern warning that NLC would mobilize its members to converge on Imo State on Wednesday, November 1.

Ajaero accused the Imo State Government of violating the rights of the state’s workers. He lamented that Governor Hope Uzodimma had neglected their welfare, leading to the tragic loss of lives due to unpaid salaries.

The NLC leader highlighted various infractions committed by the Imo State Government against its workers. These include the refusal to honor previous agreements, specifically the accord reached on January 9, 2021, outstanding salary arrears extending to approximately 20 months, the unjust categorization of workers as phantom employees, similar categorization of pensioners, and unaddressed gratuity arrears, among other grievances.

Ajaero disclosed that around 10,000 pensioners have been inaccurately identified as ghost pensioners, resulting in over 22 months of unpaid pensions, while approximately 11,000 workers have been erroneously designated as ghost workers by the Imo State Government.

The NLC President also lamented the non-compliance with the national minimum wage by the state government, claiming that Governor Uzodinma has resisted the use of social dialogue and collective bargaining to resolve the issues