The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Federal Government until today to answer how the elimination of gasoline subsidies will affect Nigerians.
To decide when to start an ongoing, nationwide strike, the union’s leadership is set to convene the next week.
However, there are rumors that Kashim Shettima, the vice president, met with certain government workers to discuss ways to stop the walkout.
In order to offer a package, including pay awards, to the NLC leadership, the Vice President is working with the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Labor and Employment, Simon Lalong.
Recall that on September 1, 2023, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC gave the government a 21-day deadline to address the widespread suffering and poverty that was being faced across the nation.
If the government didn’t agree to the labor union’s demands, it threatened to go on an indefinite strike.
According to sources who talked with Vanguard, the crucial NLC organs will meet the next week to decide on the terms of an indefinite strike should the federal government fail to take action.
According to the source, when an ultimatum expires, you call your organs, and they will determine when to start the strike.
They would adopt that stance if we ever decided to claim that we would need a day, a few days, or a week to prepare.
One of the NLC meeting insiders was asked if the strike would start right away, and her response was simply, “Nothing is impossible.”
According to a different source, “The last NEC held on September 1, 2023, actually gave the leadership of the NLC, particularly members of the National Administrative Council, NAC, the go-ahead to meet, fix a date for the beginning of the indefinite strike, and communicate to the state councils and industrial union affiliates.
“I can let you know that the strike’s leadership will meet the following week to set the date. However, the leadership would still contact the organs to inform them of the development if NAC members believe that the government has satisfactorily met our demands.
However, the insider claimed that the government team is actively attempting to prevent yet another wave of NLC industrial disturbance based on the information that is now available.
He added that the vice president, who is filling in for the president while the president is at the UNGA summit in New York, and the minister of finance were also evaluating some numbers.
According to the source, “They are aware of the gravity of the planned action, and some of them are speaking out brashly to say that they are not afraid due to the benefits package they have for employees.
“According to information now available, the government will soon reveal its holdings. Despite their best efforts, the President continues to be absent from the nation.
“We don’t know whether or not what they have will be sufficient for the NLC to take into account. The vice president has been meeting with members of the government team over the last two to three days to come up with something.