NLC begins two-day warning strike Sept. 5

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) may be leading the Organised Labour to commence a two-day warning strike on Tuesday, September 5 to protest the failure of the Federal Government to properly handle the hardship caused by the sudden removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.

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The Organised Labour, which comprises of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and their affiliates in Nigeria, had on August 2 embarked on mass protest of the “anti-people” policies of President Bola Tinubu.

They stormed the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other states, which include Lagos, Abia, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Zamfara, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kwara, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo.

The NLC had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on “the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government including the recent hike in PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) price, increase in public school fees, the release of the eight months withheld salary of university lecturers and workers”.

The Organised Labour had rejected palliative arrangements, rather demanded upward review of the minimum wage from N30,000 to N200,000.

NLC suspended the August mass protest across the country for an open window for more negotiations and reconsideration.

The President has since the petrol subsidy removal  made no moves for the review of the minimum wage or increase of workers’ salaries, despite all promises even from the electioneering campaign period.

The President, ignoring wage review, preferred to disburse N5 billion palliatives intervention funds to the 36 states of the Federation, including the FCT.

The NLC argued that palliatives cannot substitute for wage increase to enhance the purchasing power of the Nigerian worker in the era of price hike and hyper inflation emanating from the fuel subsidy removal.