The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Wednesday issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to meet her demands or face a nationwide industrial action.
To this end, the Congress called on civil society organisations and other Nigerians to commence mobilisation for a total shutdown, beginning from August 2, 2023 to protest against what it called the harsh government policies.
The ultimatum is coming as leaders of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) were meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to resume their meeting with the federal government negotiation team over the recent removal of petroleum subsidy.
The meeting, taking place in the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, was being attended by labour delegation led by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo.
It is the third of such meetings between both parties since the announcement of the fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu.
Although the meeting was still in progress as at the time of this report, but the NLC issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to revert what it called the anti-people policies.
The ultimatum
According to a communiqué issued at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC), the NLC asked the federal government to revert all the anti-people policies which include hike in PMS and increase in public school fees.
The communiqué which was signed by NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja demanded the following: “The immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government including the recent hike in PMS Price, Increase in Public School fees, the release of the 8 months withheld Salary of University lecturers and Workers and increase in VAT.
“The immediate inauguration of the Presidential Steering Committee as agreed in the earlier consequential dialogues.
“To begin the building across the nation of a Coalition of all Nigerians where all will be leaders and all will be followers.
“To call on all civil society organisations and Nigerians wherever they may be to begin mobilisation to take action on their own to save our nation.
“To lead and organize mass protest rallies across the nation to demonstrate outrage against the inhuman actions and policies of the government.
“To give the federal government a Seven-Day ultimatum within which to meet all our demands and to embark on a nation-wide action beginning Wednesday the 2nd of August, 2023 to compel the government to reverse its anti-poor and anti- workers policies.
“To consequently direct all Affiliates and State Councils to begin immediate mobilization and closely work with associations, individuals and other entities including the ones already on the streets to ensure that the government listens to the people.”
FG on effective labour administration
In a related development, the federal government has described effective labour administration as key to national development all over the world.
Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Kachollom Daju said this while speaking at a two-day 6th Registrar of Trade Unions Workshop on current challenges and prospects of Trade Union Administration in Nigeria.
According to her, the workshop, amongst others, was to acquaint participants with current trends and contemporary issues affecting labour administration in Nigeria, and its implication for sustainable development.
The permanent secretary further disclosed that the workshop would equip participants with the knowledge, skills and expertise to efficiently manage trade union affairs, workplace disputes, jurisdictional scope dynamics, unfair labour practices.
“Fundamental thematic Labour Administration concepts and principles such as Social Dialogue, Negotiation and Collective Bargaining as tools for shaping the Future of Work, improving organizational productivity and workers’ welfare will be discussed.
“Additionally, carefully selected experts in the labour sector will be driving discussions on Innovative and Creative Economic Growth Plans and Polices, Trade Union Administration, as well as Adjudication Processes of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) concerning Jurisdictional Scope issues,” she said.
The permanent secretary further added that promotion of quality professional service delivery in line with international best practice was one of the cardinal mandates at the ministry.
“The Registrar of Trade Unions Workshop is being organised pursuant to the Resolutions reached between Stakeholders and the Ministry at the Inaugural Workshop in 2013 where it was agreed that the Workshop would be an annual event.
“The last edition was held in 2019 with the theme: Effective Industrial Conflict Resolution Mechanism as a Panacea for Sustainable Growth and Development with one of its critical benchmarks being the affirmation by all stakeholders that effective and efficient conflict resolution mechanisms remain the only panacea for sustaining national growth and development. Regrettably, since 2019, the Workshop has not been convened until now.
“The resuscitation of this programme therefore is predicated on the determination and commitment of the Ministry to constantly strengthen the Labour Administration System in Nigeria.
“The promotion of quality professional service delivery in line with international best practice is one of the cardinal mandates of this Ministry.
“It is against this backdrop that the theme of this year’s workshop which is “Repositioning the Labour Administration System for Effective Socio- Economic Development in Nigeria” becomes very apt and timely, noting that effective Labour