NLC to commence nationwide strike Next Wednesday over poor economy

By Chuks NZEH

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has confirmed that it would mobilize all its State Councils across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for industrial action over the economic condition of the country especially the persistent cash crunch crisis.

NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, made this known while briefing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday where he noted that mobilisation will commence on Friday while the total shutdown of economic activities across the nation will begin on Wednesday 29, March, 2023.

He noted that”Last week at the end of our Central Working Council, CWC, meeting, we gave a one week ultimatum for the federal government to address immediately, among other issues, issue of cash crunch that was caused by the policy. As at this morning when the CWC met again to review the situation, we discovered that not much, improvement has been made.

“The situation is still almost the same. People are still buying our currency with our currencies. People can no longer can still not assess the currency and the government seems to be very adamant on this. No moves have been made to reduce the suffering of Nigerians.

“Consequently, the CWC-in-session resolved to go into the process of actualizing the one week notice.

From Friday, there will be mobilisation of all state councils through a NEC meeting. All unions have already been directed to mobilise all their organs and their branches. By Wednesday, next week, all Central Bank of Nigeria offices nationwide will be picketed.

“All central bank from the CBN headquarters will be shut till further notice. Workers are directed to stay at home and join in the picketing exercise.

“We call on Nigerians to understand the circumstances we’re operating in. People will be telling you about the political situation. The political situation is self inflicted and the economic situation is worst than the political situation because people cannot eat.

“Workers can no longer go to office and nothing is happening. So we have been pushed to the wall having given one week and we thought they could address the situation which is not addressed.

“We have decided to take our destiny in our hands. So comrades, the mobilisation commences immediately and when we talk of action from Wednesday, it’s total. Until further notice.” Ajaero, said.

It will be recalled that NLC on March 13, gave a 7 days ultimatum to the Federal government, urging them to take immediate action to cushion the biting cash and fuel scarcity crisis, or face industrial action by Nigerian workers.