Leaderships of the two labour centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress have issued a two weeks ultimatum to the Federal Government to honour the agreements reached after the subsidy removal policy.
Both Joe Ajaero of the NLC and Festus Osifo of the TUC in a joint statement lamented the dire economic situation Nigerians are going through, warning that they may not be able to guarantee industrial peace if the two weeks deadline issued elapsed without immediate intervention from government.
The two labour centres expressed profound concern over the non-implementation of the 16-point agreement reached with the Federal Government on October 2, 2023.
They said despite the passage of time, the majority of these crucial agreements remain unmet or negligibly addressed, indicating a blatant disregard for the principles of good faith, welfare and rights of Nigerian workers and Nigerians.
According to Ajaero and his counterpart, Osifo, these agreements which were reached with the federal government were focused on addressing the massive suffering and the general harsh socioeconomic consequences of the ill-conceived and ill-executed IMF/World Bank induced hike in the price of PMS and the Devaluation of the Naira.
They said the dual policies have had as we predicted dire economic consequences for the masses and workers of Nigeria. Widespread Hunger is now ravishing millions of Nigerians, with the Workers purchasing power significantly eroded, while insecurity has assumed an increasing dimension.
“Nigerians are left wondering where their next meals will come from and what tomorrow might bring. The level of panic and anxiety amongst the populace has become nightmarish unfortunately, in the midst of all these, it appears our government is bereft of appropriate measures to ameliorate the huge burden it has foisted on the citizenry.
“We wish to state that these agreements, which encompass a wide range of issues crucial to the well-being of Nigerian masses and workers, have not been honored as pledged by the Federal Government. From Wage Awards, Palliative adjustments to improved access to public utilities; to the meddlesomeness in the internal affairs of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the interference by the Lagos State Government in union activities, the case of illegal and unlawful proscription of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria RTEAN.
“The government’s failure to uphold its end of the bargain is deeply regrettable and unacceptable to the Working people and the citizenry.
“Constrained by this development and recognizing the urgency of the situation and the imperative of ensuring the protection and defense of the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers and citizens, the NLC and TUC hereby issue a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government, to honour their part of the understanding within 14 Days from tomorrow, the 9th day of February, 2024,” they both submitted.
