The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart, have directed workers nationwide to begin an indefinite strike from midnight today.
Labour’s decision to commence an indefinite strike came despite an injunction by the National Industrial Court, NIC, in Abuja, restraining NLC and TUC alongside their affiliates from embarking on any industrial action.
The strike is to protest the battering of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and others in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1, as well as the pending labour issues in the state.
They had, on November 7, resolved to declare a nationwide strike by Tuesday, November 14, if their demands were not met.
Besides the brutalisation of the NLC President, other labour leaders, journalists, other grievances of Organized Labour include outstanding salary arrears, unjust declaration of 11,000 workers as ghost employees, unsettled gratuities, non-compliance of N30,000 minimum wage act, and declaration of 11,000 workers as ghost employees, unsettled gratuities, non-compliance of N30,000 minimum wage act, and declaration of 10,000 pensioners as ghost retirees.
Recall that suspected agents of the state and security operatives had descended on Ajaero alongside others.
Organised Labour’s decision to go ahead with the planned strike followed an extraordinary National Executive Council, NEC, meeting Monday 13 November in Abuja.
President of TUC, Festus Osifo, who spoke on behalf of the two labour centres said the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibilities”
