Affiliates of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria in Lagos State complied with the two labour unions’ directive to go on an indefinite national strike on Tuesday.
On November 13, 2023, the National Executive Council of the labour unions met in Abuja and decided to go on strike.
The decision was made in response to the Federal Government’s claimed inability to address worker-related concerns such as the minimum wage, insecurity, corruption, and bad governance.
Furthermore, both unions had made requests that the government reportedly failed to meet during the current crisis in Imo that ended in the alleged brutalization of the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, and other labour union members.
Meanwhile, Mr Segun Esan, Secretary General of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, informed reporters that the union was engaged in the strike and that no trains were operating as a result.
Esan said:
“In effect, therefore, all the workers of Nigerian Railway are duty-bound to join the nationwide strike action from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023 by staying back at home and away from their offices.
“All the offices, stations, workshops, and entire premises of the corporation remain locked and inaccessible from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023, till otherwise directed by the Congress.”
Mr Oluwole Olusoji, President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions, also stated that compliance guidance had been distributed to members.
He stated that members had been told to protect lives and property from anyone who would use the situation to their advantage.
“We will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds,” Olusoji added.
cc: Punch Ng
