“Nationwide Strike Not Yet an Option” – NLC Speaks On Fuel Hike
The organized Labor has said it hasn’t yet considered a nationwide strike as the next line of action despite the breakdown of dialogue between it and the Federal Government over the hike in the petrol pump price and electricity tariff. Read here.
The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) Deputy President, Mr Joe Ajaero, revealed this at a news conference jointly organized by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Monday in Abuja.
Recall that the organized Labor on Sunday at a reconvened meeting with the Federal Government aimed at addressing the increase in the price of fuel and electricity tariff staged a walkout.
The meeting was necessitated by the recent increase of electricity tariff and pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, from N160 per liter to N170.
Ajaero explained that the Federal Government has violated the agreements reached with the Organized Labor, adding that the Congress will not at the slightest provocation start talking about strike.
Quote:
“Our strike was suspended on September 28 based on certain understanding, and those understanding were being violated, and that was why we raised that alarm yesterday, which led to the walk out.
“We can’t call you out here to announce a strike and the next strategy as if the unions are one man organization. Part of what we are doing in terms of engagement is to reach out, and if every other means fails, the strike is usually the last option by any union.
“We don’t just at the slightest provocation start talking about the strike. I think that is not what is on the table now. There are certain disagreements which we are trying to address.
“We say that we cannot accept deregulation that is import-driven and that the refineries must work before you think of it, and then you go into price-fixing.
“Price fixing is not the same thing as deregulation, you can’t regulate in a deregulated market. If they’ve deregulated, the price of the product in Sokoto will not be the same thing with that of Abuja, there will be variations,”
