Ayodeji Ayenuwa
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been urged to postpone its two-day warning strike by the Federal Government, which has pledged to address the concerns voiced by the Labour union. Simon Lalong, the minister of Labour and Employment, made the statement in Abuja on Monday.
Lalong pointed out that, as required by law, the NLC had not officially notified the ministry of the upcoming strike. He did, however, say that the ministry would meet with union officials on Monday at 3 p.m. to talk about averting the strike.
The minister expressed concern that the strike action will undo the progress made, and emphasised the government’s commitment to finding answers to the problems that Nigerians confront as a result of its policies. Lalong assured Nigerian workers that the government would not take them for granted and would work hard to create jobs in all sectors of the economy.
In response to the NLC’s strike request, the National Union of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) said that all banks will be closed on Tuesday, September 5th, and Wednesday, September 6th, 2023. This decision was made in response to a resolution passed by the NLC’s National Executive Council.
While some stakeholders, such as civil rights activist Hon. Nick Ozonsi, advised the NLC to be more forceful in negotiations with the government, others, such as Mr. Sam Udekwe, chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Enugu State, backed the two-day warning strike.
The government’s appeal comes as it tries to strike a balance between Labour concerns and economic policies, emphasising the necessity of preserving industrial peace for the benefit of Nigerian workers and citizens.
