The organised labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), chose not to attend an emergency meeting scheduled for 3 pm at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with the Federal Government.
The meeting, led by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, aimed to address concerns and potentially deter the planned nationwide strike scheduled to commence on October 3, 2023.
The strike plans had been announced by the NLC and the TUC in response to economic challenges stemming from the removal of fuel subsidies by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government. In the lead-up to the strike, organised labour and affiliated groups began mobilising members to participate, including organisations such as the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions’ Employees. Additionally, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the National Union of Electricity Employees declared their intention to join the indefinite strike.
If the strike proceeds as planned, it could result in the shutdown of the nation’s economy. This development occurs amid economic challenges, including a weakening Naira in the foreign exchange market, with an exchange rate of N985 to the US dollar in the parallel market, and a high inflation rate of 25.80 per cent recorded in August.
