The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is set to engage in discussions with the Federal Government (FG) today in Abuja over palliatives for workers.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the meeting was confirmed by NLC’s General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja.
Its outcome will determine whether or not the NLC will proceed with its planned indefinite strike after the expiration of its 21-day ultimatum to the government to meet its demands. The deadline ends on Thursday.
The NLC’s demands include the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the FG, including the recent hike in PMS price, increase in public school fees, the release of the eight months withheld salaries of university teachers and workers as well as the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT).
The meeting was convened at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong. The minister had on September 4 invited the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for talks to avert a two-day warning strike which held September 5 and 6. The NLC shunned the meeting.
According to the NLC, the decision of the congress followed the “failure of the Tinubu-led Federal Government to dialogue and engage stakeholders within the organised labour on efforts to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol on the poor masses.”
