The Nigerian Federal Government has extended an invitation to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in response to the union’s announcement of an impending indefinite strike.
The strike, proposed in protest of the removal of fuel subsidies and the prevailing economic hardships in the country, prompted the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, to request dialogue with the NLC.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Director of Press and Public Relations for the Ministry, Olajide Oshundun, conveyed the minister’s invitation. The statement read, “Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Bako Lalong, has once again reached out to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for another round of discussions concerning the impending indefinite strike.”
Furthermore, the statement explained that the minister had directed the Department of Trade Unions Services and Industrial Relations to convene a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday, September 18, 2023. The objective of this meeting is to address all outstanding issues and prevent further disruptions to the country’s economy.
The minister emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, to engage constructively with organized labor. This commitment entails addressing their concerns through thorough consultation and negotiation processes to maintain industrial harmony, a pivotal element of the “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
It’s noteworthy that the minister had previously invited both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for discussions in an attempt to avert the two-day strike that took place on September 5th and 6th. However, as indicated in the statement, only the TUC had participated in that meeting at the time.
