The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC has given a deadline to the federal government, requesting the retraction of a legal action against the union concerning their countrywide demonstration on Wednesday.
NLC President Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, in a statement on Thursday said if the court summons was not retracted by Friday, August 11, the Congress will initiate a nationwide strike on Monday, August 14.
It said the decision was made during its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Organised Labour initiated a nationwide demonstration due to their perception of the government’s sluggishness in offering relief from the economic challenges stemming from the elimination of fuel subsidy.
However, the protest which was supposed to continue on Thursday was suspended after the leadership of the NLC and TUC met with President Bola Tinubu.
Following the protest, the Federal Ministry of Justice had filed a contempt of court against the union through the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).
The NLC in the statement alleged that the Ministry of Justice and NICN of trying to truncate the tenets of democracy and silence the voice of Nigerian worker.
The Union noted that though it had agreed to suspend its protests based on its meeting with the President, it will embark on a nationwide strike if the contempt of court charges was not withdrawn.
Additional outcomes from the NEC gathering involve the temporary halt of future demonstrations for the Nationwide Mass Protest, the ongoing vigilance to ensure government accountability and effective governance, and a commitment to reaching a resolution on the Petroleum price increase matter by August 19, based on assurances from the President and the National Assembly.
RN
