NLC in crucial meeting today

LEADERS of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, led by Ayuba Wabba, will meet today in Abuja, to critically review the ongoing nationwide strike and protests to force government to reverse the N145 pump price of petrol to the pre-Wednesday 11 price of N86.50. The meeting is coming following appeals by the President of Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Yakubu Dogara, and the National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to them to call off the industrial action and return to negotiating table with the Federal Government.




labour protest 22The Wabba faction of the NLC, alongside the Joint Action Front, JAF, had, since Wednesday, May 18, embarked on a nationwide strike and mass protests. The action had so far recorded low turn out with workers in Lagos State, the economic nerve centre of the country, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and Rivers State, shunning the strike. On Thursday, the leadership of the National Assembly, in a meeting with the factional leaders, appealed to them to call off the strike. Speaking with Sunday Vanguard, General Secretary of NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said they would be meeting today to review the situation and determine the next line of action, saying, “We will be meeting tomorrow (today) to review the situation to determine the next line of action. After the meeting, a communique will be issued on the outcome.” Equally, leaders of JAF will meet in Lagos today to review the situation, but have resolved to continue the action tomorrow. A text message by Mr. Abiodun Aremu, JAF Secretary, said the meeting would take place at 2 pm to plan how to re-strategise the protest and mass action to force government to reverse the hike in the pump price of petrol and electricity tariff.