NLC makes demands to avert impending strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is demanding an impactful set of palliatives that could truly alleviate the suffering of workers, meaningful wage and swift resolution of the National Union of Road Transport Workers

(NURTW) crisis to avert the impending nationwide strike.
Its president, Joe Ajaero, who made the demands yesterday at the resumption of negotiations between Labour and government in Abuja, expressed hope that the current administration would demonstrate good conscience and sincerity of purpose.

While lauding the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, for summoning the parley, the NLC helmsman explained that both government and Labour should have a synergy and strive towards finding solutions to the suffering of Nigerians, caused by the fuel subsidy removal.

Allaying fear of possible walkout as has been customary to the NLC in recent times, Ajaero restated that their demands had been tabled.

On the NURTW crisis, he said: “Before the warning strike, we raised the issue of palliative, wage and then the invasion of the national office of NURTW. Under the watch of the Ministry of Labour, a trade union office was violated. Police invaded it and removed the elected officers of that trade union, went ahead and killed somebody. As we talk now, the authentic president and general secretary of the unions are behind bars. You plot a coup as a union, you remove the leadership and somebody announces himself as a caretaker committee chairman.”

Earlier in his remarks, Lalong said he and the Minister of State represent government’s commitment to addressing the crisis and nurturing economic advancement in the country.
Negotiations are continuing in the days ahead, as both parties search for a common ground.