Emmanuel OchayiIn a resolute stance, the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have maintained that there is no turning back on their planned nationwide strike, set to begin on October 3rd.
Despite last-ditch efforts by the Federal Government to persuade union leaders to reconsider, the organized labor groups stand unwavering.
In a joint press conference held in Abuja last Tuesday, the unions announced the indefinite industrial action, which they boldly termed the “mother of all strikes,” intending to bring every sector of the nation’s economy to a halt. Their decision to strike hinges on the government’s perceived failure to address the suffering and hardship experienced by Nigerians due to the removal of fuel subsidies and other policies attributed to the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
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These labor unions have criticized the government for its alleged lack of meaningful and constructive dialogue, even in the face of a 21-day ultimatum and a prior two-day warning strike on September 5 and 6.
In a message commemorating Nigeria’s 63rd independence anniversary, President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, called on Nigerians to join the nationwide strike as a “march to freedom, better living conditions, and prosperity for all.” He emphasized the need to unite, transcending ethnic, religious, and political differences for the common good.
Ajaero’s message, titled “The travails of a mismanaged giant,” reflected on Nigeria’s past greatness, contrasted with its current challenges, and called for collective efforts to restore the nation’s prosperity. He pointed out that the mismanagement of resources and decades of poor governance had led to Nigeria becoming the “poverty capital of the world.”
This call for a nationwide strike aims to address pressing issues, including the fuel subsidy, currency devaluation, privatization, underfunding of public universities and healthcare, and the fate of national assets like Nigeria Shipping Line and Nigeria Airways.
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Nigerian workers are demanding answers, seeking transparency and accountability from their leaders, with the hope of a brighter future where prosperity is accessible to all, not just a privileged few. The upcoming strike, if it proceeds as planned, could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape, forcing a reckoning with longstanding issues that have plagued the nation.
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