Breaking News! Labour Unions Call For Indefinite Strike Action

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), said on Tuesday they would begin an indefinite strike on October 3.

President of the NLC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Nigeria’s two biggest workers’ unions plan to start an indefinite strike next week to protest against the high cost of living, a crisis that began after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government scrapped petrol subsidy.

It directed all affiliates and state councils to immediately start mobilising for industrial action, urging them to organise street protests and rallies until the government responded positively to its demands.

“It’s going to be a total shutdown … until the government meets the demand of Nigerian workers and Nigerian masses,” the union leaders said in a joint statement.

“The Federal Government has refused to meaningfully engage and reach agreements with organised labour on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigeria workers and masses.”

The Trade Unions have been calling on President Bola Tinubu to reverse his decision on subsidy removal in May 2023. 

The government had urged unions to continue negotiations instead of resorting to strikes, saying this would hurt an economy grappling with double-digit inflation, foreign currency shortages and low oil production.

The subsidy had kept fuel prices low but was draining government finances claimed the government.

Tinubu insisted that his two biggest reforms, the removal of the subsidy and foreign exchange controls were necessary to attract investment and boost economic growth.