Uchendu Alexis
As 21-day ultimatum issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) approaches, tensions are rising across the country. The approaching prospect of a statewide strike has sent shockwaves through all sectors, from government offices to private firms, with all eyes on the conclusion of negotiations between the government and labor organizations.
This is despite last Monday’s parley being deadlocked as both parties failed to see eye-to-eye on the labour unions’ demands over the removal of petrol subsidy.
“I don’t think there is any problem. We don’t have any fears about some of the things they (labour) put on the table and also the suggestions and the package of the Federal Government,” the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, told State House Correspondents after a private meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima, at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, Wednesday evening.
Lalong has already met with organized labor in Abuja. However, both parties were unable to strike an agreement since the Nigerian Labour Congress insisted that the FG meet its requests before the September 1 deadline.
The union issued the 21-day ultimatum over the delay in sharing palliatives, threatening to declare an indefinite labor strike if its demands were not met.
It stated that everything is in place for a comprehensive economic shutdown to begin on Friday, when the ultimatum expires.
