The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have threatened possible nationwide action over petrol prices, minimum wage renegotiation, tax relief and outstanding workers’ benefits following a deadlock in talks with the Federal Government.
The unions said the meeting, held at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on Thursday, ended without an agreement, with the next round of discussions scheduled for Tuesday, October 27.
In a joint statement issued on October 22 and signed by NLC General Secretary, Comrade Benson Upah, and TUC Secretary-General, Comrade Nuhu Toro, organised labour accused the government delegation of coming to the meeting without the necessary mandate to negotiate on the issues presented.
“Regrettably, the government delegation came unprepared and without the necessary mandates to engage substantively on these issues. No concrete commitments were secured, and the outstanding issues remain unresolved,” the statement read.
The unions said their demands included a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of agreed tax relief measures and the settlement of outstanding issues affecting health workers.
They also listed the implementation of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) terms of settlement and the demands of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) on peculiar allowance, wage award and hazard allowance.
According to the statement, the Minister of Labour requested an adjournment to enable the government to make adequate preparations for the next meeting, including the participation of relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies.
The NLC and TUC, however, warned that they would not tolerate further delays in addressing the demands.
“NLC remains committed to dialogue, but we will not accept indefinite delay,” the unions said.
They added that they would report back to their respective organs and allow the relevant structures of the NLC to determine the next course of action if the October 27 meeting failed to produce meaningful progress.
The unions also urged their affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to begin preparations for possible industrial action across the country.
“However, we urge all affiliates of NLC and TUC; all state councils and our civil society allies to be at alert and start mobilizing for a possible action across the nation while we hope that the tenets of our demands are met by the government,” the statement added.
Despite the warning, organised labour called on Nigerian workers and the general public to remain calm, expressing hope that the government would address the outstanding demands at the next meeting.
