NLC May Commence Indefinite Strike November 14

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday declared that a nationwide strike would commence on Tuesday, November 14, if its demands are not met.

The leadership of both unions concluded after an “Extraordinary” National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The Union also revealed that the mobilization of members and allies had begun nationwide, adding that the action by the Organised Labour was followed by the brutalisation of Joe Ajaero, NLC National President, last week in Imo State.

Some of the concerns raised during the meeting also include the “Imo state government’s refusal to implement previous agreements, Unjust Declaration of Workers as Ghost Workers, Vandalisation of the NLC State Secretariat, Implementation of Discriminatory Pay, Unsettled Gratuity Arrears, Non-compliance with National Minimum Wage, Intimidation and Harassment of Trade Union Leaders and among others.”

Recall that the Organised Labour recently handed the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to replace the police commissioner in Imo state following his alleged involvement in the attack carried out on the NLC president.

Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police, on Sunday, during a program on Channels Television, announced the redeployment of Mohammed Barde, the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, for “neutrality sake” ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.

The NLC also accused the Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, of being among the people who plotted the attack, but the governor would later distance himself from the act.

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Below is the full excerpt from the communique issued after the meeting:

COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF THE JOINT NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) & TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (TUC) HELD ON TUESDAY, THE 7TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2023

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) joint National Executive Council (NEC) convened to conduct a comprehensive review of the progress made in executing its directive to initiate an industrial action in Imo state. This decision was prompted by a series of infractions and encroachments on the rights of workers within the state.

During the meeting, the council deliberated on the distressing incident involving the abduction and assault of the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero. Additionally, the council addressed the appalling acts of violence and bloodshed inflicted upon him and fellow workers, who had assembled at the NLC Imo State Secretariat in compliance with the directive on Imo state. These acts were perpetrated by the Imo state Government, acting under the guidance of the Governor and in collaboration with the Nigeria Police.

The Joint NEC-in-session unanimously condemned in very strong terms the brutal and beastly actions of Hope Uzodimma, his goons and the Nigeria Police.
To this end, the joint NLC/TUC NEC-in-session observed that whereas:

1. the decision to embark on an industrial action in Imo state was purely in keeping with its earlier resolution; the Imo state Government under Hope Uzodimma heartlessly continues in its abuse of the rights and privileges of workers in the state viz;

 Refusal to Implement Previous Agreements: The Government has repeatedly reneged on agreements, most notably the accord reached on January 9th, 2021, between the Government and Organised Labour.

 Outstanding Salary Arrears: Shockingly, some workers have been subjected to a staggering 20 months of unpaid salaries under the unfounded label of ‘ghost workers’.

 Unjust Declaration of Workers as Ghost Workers: Approximately 11,000 hardworking individuals have been unjustly branded as ghost workers, their salaries diverted even while they diligently carried out their duties.

 Vandalisation of NLC State Secretariat: The wanton destruction of the NLC State Secretariat is a blatant attack on the rights of workers and a violation of the sanctity of their representative body.

 Implementation of Discriminatory Pay: The introduction of discriminatory pay practices and the imposition of apartheid-like policies in determining monthly payments is an affront to fair labor practices.

 Unsettled Gratuity Arrears: The Government has failed to address the 8-year backlog of gratuity owed to retirees, showing a grave disregard for the rights of those who have dedicated their careers in service.

 Non-compliance with National Minimum Wage: The Government has persistently shirked its duty to properly implement the N30,000 National Minimum Wage, a critical safeguard for the economic well-being of workers.

 Intimidation and Harassment of Trade Union Leaders: The Government’s witch hunt against trade union leaders through various guises constitutes an alarming assault on the right to represent and advocate for the rights of workers.

 Use of Violence and Thuggery: The continued deployment of thugs and violence against workers and their leaders is an unacceptable practice that undermines the democratic rights of workers.

 Misappropriation of Union Dues: The impoundment and illegal diversion of union dues, funds rightfully belonging to the unions, is a gross violation of workers’ rights to manage their collective resources.

 Declaration of Pensioners as Ghosts: Approximately 10,000 pensioners have been wrongly labeled as ghost pensioners, resulting in over 22 months of unpaid pensions, tragically leading to the loss of lives.

 Systematic Harassment and Intimidation of Workforce: The entire workforce is constantly subjected to threats of violence and sack, creating an environment of fear and uncertainty.

 Resistance to Social Dialogue and Collective Bargaining: The Government’s persistent resistance to using the instruments of social dialogue and collective bargaining is an affront to the principles of fair labor practices.

 Interference with Workers’ Democratic Processes: The violent interference and disruption of the Imo State Delegates’ Conference demonstrates a blatant attempt to impose favored candidates on the workers, undermining their democratic rights.

2. Workers had gathered to peacefully protest these infractions by the Governor at the Secretariat of the NLC in Imo state as guaranteed by our extant labour laws and the Constitution;
3. The Police supported a group of Imo state Governor’s thugs led by its SA on Special Duties, invaded the premises of the Imo NLC Secretariat, and unleashed mayhem on the few workers who had gathered, inflicting injuries and stealing and damaging personal effects, including various sums;
4. The President of the NLC was subsequently subjected to brutalization, blindfolded and abducted by the Police and taken to an unknown destination where he was further subjected to further violations and humiliation;
5. The NLC and TUC have made demands on the Government which have not been met as at the time of this session;
6. The continued prevalence of the use of violence and impunity in negotiating rights and interests within the nation’s socioeconomic space against all known dictates of democracy and Social Dialogue;

Consequently, the NLC/TUC NEC-in-Session resolved as follows:

1. To order the immediate withdrawal of services and shutdown of Imo state beginning midnight today. All workers and affiliates are expected to ensure compliance from wherever they are. All flights into and out of Imo state, fuel supplies, and electricity be stopped immediately as applicable. All Public and Private Sector workers are to immediately down tools indefinitely.
2. That if our demands are still unmet, workers all over the federation shall join in withdrawing their services by Midnight Tuesday, the 14th of November, 2023,
3. All State Councils of NLC & TUC and affiliates are, by this resolution, mandated to ensure full compliance with NEC’s decision

Comrade Adewale Adeyanju (Deputy President NLC)
Comrade Festus Osifo (President TUC)

Number of Times NLC Threatened to Embark on a Nationwide Strike

Meanwhile, this will be the fifth time NLC will be announcing a nationwide strike since the beginning of the year 2023.

On March 2023, the NLC had threatened to embark on a nationwide strike due to the currency swap introduced under the leadership of the suspended Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, which, according to the Union, had hit Nigeria hard and has affected businesses and commercial transactions among Nigerians.

However, the Union would later suspend its planned strike due to the availability of Naira in commercial banks. The Union also assured that it would picket all branches of the CBN from March 29th if the federal government failed to end the liquidity squeeze, which had affected Nigerians

On June 2023, following a meeting with the government at the presidential Villa over the removal of fuel subsidy, the NLC suspended a nationwide strike which was scheduled to commence June 7 2023

In July, the NLC issued a 7-day ultimatum beginning July 26, 2023, to the Federal Government to conclude negotiations or face indefinite nationwide strike action to commence with a protest on August 2, 2023. The union decided to embark on strike at its meeting held on July 25 in Abuja.

On Tuesday, September 26, the NLC and the TUC, at a joint press briefing, announced that they would be embarking on an indefinite nationwide strike on Tuesday, October 3. According to the unions, they have decided to embark on the strike following the petrol subsidy removal and continuous demonstration of unwillingness and complete lack of initiative to address the fall-outs of the removal and other harsh economic policies.

However, a two-day warning strike was carried out. But the Union later resolved, following an agreement with the Federal Government. Below are the agreements reached between the two parties.

1. The Federal Government grants a wage award of N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only to all Federal Government workers beginning from the month of September pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.
2. A minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement.
3. The Federal Government suspends the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Diesel for six months beginning from October 2023.
4. The Federal Government accepts to vote N100 billion for providing high-capacity CNG buses for mass transit in Nigeria. Provisions are also being made for an initial 55,000 CNG conversion kits to kick start an autogas conversion programme, while work is ongoing on state-of-the-art CNG stations nationwide. The rollout aims to commence by November with pilots across 10 campuses nationwide.
5. The Federal Government plans to implement various tax incentive measures for the private sector and the general public.
6. On the leadership crises rocking the NURTW and the purported proscription of RTEAN, the Federal Government commits to handling Labour matters in line with relevant ILO Conventions and Nigerian Labour Acts. A resolution of the ongoing impasse is expected by or before October 13.
7. The issue of outstanding Salaries and Wages of Tertiary Education workers in Federal-owned educational institutions is being referred to the Ministry of Labour and Employment for further engagement.
8. The Federal Government commits to pay N25,000 per month for three months starting from October 2023 to 15 million households, including vulnerable pensioners.
9. The Federal Government will increase its initiatives on subsidized distribution of fertilizers to farmers across the country.
10. The Federal Government should urge the State Government through the National Economic Council and Governors Forum to implement wage awards for their workers. Similar consideration should also be given to local government and private sector workers.
11. The Federal Government commits to the provision of funds as announced by the President on the 1st of August broadcast to the Nation for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises. The MSMEs beneficiaries should commit to the principle of decent jobs.
12. A joint visit will be made to the refineries to ascertain their rehabilitation status.
13. All parties commit to henceforth abide by the dictates of Social dialogue in all our future engagements.
14. The NLC and TUC accept to suspend for 30 days the planned Indefinite Nationwide strike scheduled to begin Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023.
15. This Memorandum shall be filed with the relevant Court of competent jurisdiction within one (1) week as consent judgment by the Federal Government.