The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said it reached no agreement with the federal government to suspend the planned indefinite strike slated to begin from October 3.
The union made the denial in a release by its head of information and public affairs, Mr Benson Upah.
NLC explained that it became necessary to make the clarification following the statement credited to the director of press, ministry of labour and employment, Mr Olajide Oshundun.
Oshundun was quoted to have said that there was an agreement between the organised labour and the government to suspend the proposed strike.
In its reaction, the NLC said the issue of strike was beyond the ministry.
The statement reads: “The press statement issued by the director of press, ministry of labour and employment, Mr Olajide Oshundun on our proposed strike action and illegal occupation of the secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers has been brought to our attention. We note some inconsistencies.
“Accordingly, we find it necessary to make clarifications. Firstly, we do not have any agreement with the government to suspend the planned strike action. Neither do we have any date for a meeting with government that may lead to the suspension of the proposed strike.
“While we do not intend to demean or minimise the office of the honourable minister of labour and employment, this matter is beyond the ministry. This should have been obvious to them during our most recent meeting.
Secondly, while we appreciate the role played by the…minister of labour and employment, Barrister Simon Lalong in securing the release of the executives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers from unlawful/illegal police detention, we take exception to the ministry describing these executives as factional leaders.
“They were lawfully elected into office. We still find it necessary to advise the police and those elements behind their travails to desist from this despicable and shameful conduct. They are advised to retrace their steps.
“If democracy is to be of meaning to us, then we should resist the urge or temptation for impunity. Enough is enough.”
Meanwhile, the leadership of Labour Party (LP) has endorsed the planned strike over the inability of the federal government to provide palliatives to ameliorate the hardship following its (government’s) hasty withdrawal of subsidy on petrol.
LP expressed its support for the NLC and TUC saying Nigerians had borne the excruciating effect of the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol for so long.
The party in a statement entitled ‘Workers strike: Labour Party identifies with Nigerian workers’ issued by its spokesman, Mr Obiora Ifoh, said it followed with keen interest, in the last four months, various meetings between organised labour and various government bodies to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians, following the removal of fuel subsidy
The party cited the various meetings between organised labour and various government bodies including the president of the senate, the presidency and the ministers of labour as well as all the efforts made by the labour leadership to get the government to understand the magnitude of sufferings its policies have thrown Nigerian workers into since the enthronement of this administration.
“We are not in any way surprised at the government’s apparent indifference, insensitivity, intransigence, and recalcitrant posture towards the genuine demands of the labour bodies because their usurpation of power was not sanctioned by both the workers and generality of Nigerians.
“Nigerians went to the polls with clear conviction of the government they wanted but this was denied them through institutional conspiracy. Today, Nigerian workers are being punished for taking a stand during the February 25 Presidential Election.
“Labour Party is also aware of the sordid conditions which workers, the majority of them being our members, are subjected to, where many go to the office on a Monday and are forced by the prevailing economic challenges to sleep in their offices all through to Friday before returning home.
“We are also using this medium to inform all our members and supporters to stock their homes with their necessary needs ahead of a long-drawn mass action until victory is ascertained. No retreat, no surrender,” the party said.
Similarly, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) said it would implement every instruction issued by the NLC.
The national president of the union, Mr Williams Akporeha said it is non-negotiable for NUPENG to join the strike.
“We are an affiliate of NLC and we will follow their directives to the letter,” he added.
