The Federal Government will meet with leaders of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) by 7 pm this evening (Sunday 27 September 2020) over their planned mass strike on the increase in petrol and electricity prices.
NLC and TUC have said that there is “no going back” on their strike (or industrial action) that is supposed to commence tomorrow (Monday 28 September 2020).
Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila has met with the labour leaders over the planned strike, promising palliatives like special buses that run on autogas. But the labour leaders say the strike is still on, and that the basic prices of necessities have simply become too much.
Read: Fuel Depot Price Is Now 151 Naira. Should We Run To Togo?
What This Means
There are 29 labour unions affiliated with the NLC, including 4 million members. If the NLC and the TUC go on strike, it means many unions and their workers will not show up for work tomorrow – including aviation workers, medical and health workers, staff union of universities, agricultural employees, judicial staff, bankers, electricity employees, road transport workers, and almost anyone who is a worker.
Already, petroleum marketers say they will not join in this industrial action, and that the fuel price increase caused by the subsidy removal is necessary.
So, minus petroleum marketers who have backed out, every other labour union affiliated with the NLC is set for a strike tomorrow, except if the government meets their demands this evening.
Let’s pray.
Read: “Hay God, Will I Be Paying More For Electricity By September?”