The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced on Thursday that a nationwide strike will begin on August 14, 2023, if the Federal Ministry of Justice did not withdraw the case filed against the organised labour union.
The labour union made the decision during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, August 3, 2023.
NLC president Joe Ajaero in a statement issued on Thursday, stated that the Ministry of Justice and National Industrial Court have continued to allow themselves to be used as agents of “anti-democracy.”.
The union stated that, while it decided to postpone protests during its discussion with President Bola Tinubu, it will launch a statewide strike on August 14, 2023, if the government does not remove the lawsuit filed against it.
Stating the resolutions of the NEC meeting, Ajaero said the NEC resolved “to support and affirm the decision to suspend further protest on the nationwide mass protest; to commit to maintaining the required vigilance needed to hold government accountable on its assurances and governance in general; To commit to the terminal date of August 19, 2023, within which the issues around the Petroleum price hike will be agreed given the assurances of the President and the National Assembly.
“To go on total strike across the country any day labour leaders are summoned to court by the government through the NICN. To demand the immediate withdrawal of this litigious terrorism by the Federal Ministry of Justice before the end of work Friday, the 11th of August, 2023.
“To embark on a nationwide comprehensive strike beginning Monday, 14th of August, 2023 if this contemptuous court summons is not withdrawn by whosoever initiated it”.