The hopes of the Federal Government to avert the planned strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have diminished as the unions declined a last-minute meeting with government officials. Labor insisted on proceeding with the strike.
They refuted claims by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi that the strike would violate a court order. Femi Falana (SAN), counsel to organized labor, advised the government to resume negotiations with his clients.
President Bola Tinubu and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, appealed to labor to reconsider their position and postpone the planned action for the sake of the masses.
The federal authorities had called for an emergency meeting with labor representatives to resolve their differences, with Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, and Labor and Employment Minister, Simon Lalong, set to lead the government delegation. However, labor did not attend the meeting, and it has been rescheduled for the weekend.
Labor accused the government of lacking seriousness, citing the current economic downturn as the reason for their planned strike.
Responding to claims that the strike would violate a court order, the NLC stated that there was no such existing order and that the previous order had lapsed due to non-diligent prosecution.
Femi Falana, counsel to NLC and TUC, called for the government to reopen negotiations with his clients, emphasizing that negotiations should have concluded since the ex parte order was obtained on June 5, 2023.
President Tinubu and Sultan Abubakar urged labor to reconsider the strike, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and the potential harm a strike could cause to the common man.
In Rivers State, NLC and TUC leaders directed their members to comply with the proposed October 3 strike, while the NLC in Bauchi State also prepared for the strike as a way to express their resolve for a truly independent Nigeria.
However, a support group of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), National Progressive Hub (NPH), appealed to organized labor to shelve their planned nationwide strike and continue engaging in dialogue with the government.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command assured the public that they are prepared to maintain peace and prevent any breakdown of law and order during and after the proposed strike. They emphasized their commitment to protecting Nigerians.
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