Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and TUC suspends planned strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have jointly decided to suspend the indefinitely planned strike, which was originally set to commence on October 3, 2023.

This decision comes in response to the government’s recent removal of the fuel subsidy, a move that had triggered widespread concern and unrest.

The NLC had earlier issued directives to its affiliated member unions across the nation, calling for a nationwide shutdown.

This call to action followed the government’s refusal to address the seven-point demands presented by the NLC and the TUC, which aimed at alleviating the hardships faced by Nigerian workers and the country’s impoverished population.

Additionally, Comrade (Prince) Dr. Adewale Adeyanju fnli HFCPSP, the President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), had also ordered the shutdown of all national seaports, jetties, oil & gas platforms, and terminals in solidarity with the labor movement’s demands.

However, following a pivotal emergency meeting convened on October 2, 2023, between federal government representatives and labor leaders, both the NLC and TUC have reached a unanimous decision to suspend the planned strike.

This suspension is seen as a positive step to allow for the government’s implementation of the demands presented by the NLC.

In light of this development, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC has instructed all its affiliated member unions to advise their members to return to work beginning on October 3, 2023, as the previously scheduled indefinite strike has been formally suspended.

Comrade Adeyanju, who also holds the position of Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, has extended a similar directive to all members of the maritime sector, urging them to resume work in accordance with the Nigeria Labour Congress’s instructions.

Excerpt of the Press Release;

PRESS RELEASE:

NLC, TUC SUSPEND INDEFINITE STRIKE

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have jointly suspend the indefinite strike billed for October 3, 2023 following the removal of fuel subsidy. It would be recalled that the Nigeria Labour Congress had directed its affiliate member Unions across the country to mobilise and shut down the country following the refusal of government to adhere to the seven points demand made by the NLC and the TUC to ameliorate the suffering of the teeming Nigerian Workers and the impoverished masses of the country.

The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade (Prince) Dr. Adewale Adeyanju fnli HFCPSP, in the same vein equally ordered that all the nation’s Seaports, Jetties, Oil & Gas platforms and Terminals be shut down accordingly for operations.

But after the outcome of emergency meeting summoned today, October 2, 2023, between the federal government and labour leaders was held, the NLC and TUC had jointly agreed to suspend the strike to allow for implementation of the NLC demands. Consequently, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC had directed that all its affiliate members should direct their members to return to work tomorrow, October 3, 2023 as the planned indefinite strike has been suspended.

Comrade Adeyanju, the Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress had equally directed that all members of the Maritime sector should resume work tomorrow as instructed by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

E- Signed
Com John Kennedy Ikemefuna
Head of Media, MWUN