There is an indefinite strike being planned, which has received pushback from MAN, NECA, and other organizations. The NLC will make a decision on Tuesday regarding the strike.
NLC strike
Yesterday, the business community warned that the organized nationwide strike by labor over workers’ welfare may harm the country’s economy at this time. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is set to convene on Tuesday to decide on the strike. The organization had given the federal government a 21-day ultimatum to provide palliatives for Nigerians to ease the hardship caused by the fuel subsidy removal.
The NLC is demanding a review of minimum wage, tax exemptions, and allowances for public sector workers. The planned indefinite strike, which is a follow-up to the organization’s recent warning of industrial action, would shut down commercial and economic activities across the country. However, the business community fears that any shutdown of the economy at this time would not be good for the country and the citizens in general.
The Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Segun Ajayi-Kadir, said that a national strike now would complicate the present economic situation.
A memo entitled “Implementation of the 35% and 23.5% salary increment for staff of tertiary institutions” was addressed by Ekpo Nta, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of the NSWIC, to the Minister of Education on September 14, 2023.
The memo referenced a letter from the Federal Ministry of Education and attached circulars pertaining to four salary structures in Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education.
The memo confirmed an increase in salary increment from 23.5% to 25%. The Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAuGF) also confirmed the increment in a letter signed by Ajanaku F.O, on behalf of the Director of Human Resources of the OAuGF, on September 21, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) threatened to protest the ban on the operations of its affiliate union, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), by the Lagos State government. The TUC directed its members to mobilize for a one-day protest and warned of a total withdrawal of service by its members.
The TUC has employed all necessary tools of engagement for amicable resolution, including writing letters and holding meetings with the Lagos State Government on the issue.
The TUC urged the Ministry of Labour and Employment to call the Lagos State Government to order, as the National Industrial Court had ruled that the state government had no power to proscribe a registered trade union.
Against this background, we announced on September 4th that if the Lagos State Government doesn’t resolve the issue within two weeks, we plan to hold a protest. If the issue remains unresolved after the protest, we will shut down Lagos State completely.
This is because we don’t accept the State Government’s actions against a legally registered trade union.
To ensure a successful protest on Monday, we have notified the DG of DSS, IGP, and the National Security Adviser. We’ve requested adequate security for the protest. We’ve also instructed all our affiliates to travel to Lagos next week.