THE NIGERIA Labour Congress (NLC) has slated February 27 and 28, 2024 to demonstrate workers discontent against swelling economic hardship and insecurity in the country in the face of galloping inflation.
Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of NLC, told journalists at a briefing that the decision was a resolution from an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Friday at the Paschal Bafyau Labour House, Abuja that deliberated on the state of the economy and matters related to insecurity in the country.
The protest would begin a week after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued to the federal government.
RELATED NEWS:
OCTOBER 2023 AGREEMENT: NLC, TUC Issue 14-day Strike Notice To FG
NLC Seeks Annual Review Of Minimum Wage
Council Of Imams Calls For Urgent Government’s Intervention In Growing Hardship
Niger Orders Release Of 25 Protesters Of Economic Hardship
JNI Urges FG To Urgently Intervene Over Difficulties
The ultimatum, which was issued on February 8, 2024, will expire on February 23, 2024.
The NLC and TUC gave the two-week ultimatum to the federal government to meet fulfil agreements the parties entered into on October 2, 2023, which ranged from wage increments to improved access to public utilities, which organised labour accused government of failing to fulfil cushion the impact of the government’s neo-liberal policies that have wreaked havoc on the working class.
Comrade Ajaero, said the press briefing at the end of the emergency NEC meeting on Friday that NEC unanimously noted its deep disappointment and condemned the action of the federal government in refusing to implement the agreements reached.
“NEC-in-session follows its decisions that it stands to rectify the 14 days ultimatum issued to the federal government within which to implement the agreement, and address the mounting crisis of the survival of Nigerians.
“That the 14 days ultimatum notice expires on the midnight of February 22, that if on the expiration the Congress is not satisfied with government compliance with the conditions of the notice, Congress will be at liberty to take action that will compel government to implement the agreement.
ALSO READ: UPDATE:
Tinubu, Governors Consider State Police, Order Clampdown On Food Hoarders
Hard Times Will Be Over Soon – First Lady
Economic Hardship: Gov. Abba Yusuf To Meet Tinubu
Insecurity: Don Blames Biting Economy For Upsurge In Crimes
Economic Hardship: Gov. Abba Yusuf To Meet Tinubu
Insecurity: Don Blames Biting Economy For Upsurge In Crimes
“NEC in session declare a two-day nationwide protest on February 27 and 28 to demonstrate outrage on the mounting hardship and insecurity across the nation. If our demands are met after the nationwide protest, NEC will ensure to issue a seven-day notice that will expire on March 2, to the federal government, after which an indefinite nationwide strike will commence,” Ajaero declared, adding that Nigerian workers and people are not interested in empty talk but action.
The NLC President called on all its affiliates, state councils and civil society allies of organised labour to start mobilising across the nation for effective mass action. He added that there is a compelling need for urgent solution the pervasive suffering of the Nigerian people and workers so as to restore confidence on the democratic process and social dialogue as he lamented that that millions of workers and Nigerians generally are facing hunger, erosion of purchasing power and insecurity as a result of the neo-liberal reforms that drove up prices of goods and services.
