Labour Calls Off Strike, Returns To Negotiation Table With FG

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday called off its nationwide strike.Speaking to journalists, the president of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba said the union called off the strike after several deliberations.

Wabba said the decision to call off the strike came after an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council of the NLC.

“After an exhaustive deliberation, NEC noted its protest action was informed by the twin issues of the unjustified and illegal hike in electricity tariff and increase in the pump price of petroleum products,” Wabba said.

He also said the council adjudged that the strike action is a successin spite of both internal and external challenges the union faced during the period. 

“In consideration of the above, NEC after due consultation with its constituents resolved to suspend with immediate effect, the action it commenced on Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

The action is thus hereby suspended,” he said. He commended all those who participated in the action, stating that the union is committed to genuine dialogue within the framework of internationallyestablished and recognized principles of representation with it and the Nigerian government.

He further condemned the activities of the security operatives especially the police in Ebonyi state. Also present at the briefing was renowned activist and lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN). 

After three days of what it called nationwide warning strike last week, the Nigeria Labour Congress has scheduled a meeting of its National Executive Council, NEC, for today (Monday) in Abuja.

The meeting today was expected to be preceded by another by the National Administrative Council NAC, an organ of elected officers and the NEC, comprising representativesof all the Congress affiliates across the country.

That first meeting was scheduled for yesterday (Sunday) also in Abuja.The warning strike began on Wednesday following government's failure to accede to its demands to revert to the old fuel price of N86.50 per litre as well as reverse the electricity tariff hike imposed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission last January.

The strike action appeared to have been largely a failure in most states of the federation, as Nigerians ignored the call by the NLC and went about their normal businesses throughout the three days of the strike.

Although well meaning Nigerians have been making entreaties to the NLC to prevail on its members to shelve the strike, the scheduled meeting appears to be a forum for labour to consider these pleas, review its position and consider calling off the strike and return to the negotiation table with government on their demands.

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said Sunday's meeting would discuss¬ the proposal by a national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, during his visit to the NLC secretariat in Abuja on Friday to appeal for the calling off of ¬the strike.

During the visit, Mr. Wabba had said the decision to suspend or call off the strike could only be taken by the appropriate organ of the congress empowered to negotiate with government.

Other appeals that have gone to the NLC to shelve the strike came from the leadership of the National Assembly. 

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