The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has decided to pull out of the planned two-day nationwide protest earlier announced by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The Vice-President of TUC, Tommy Etim, said the TUC withdrew because the NLC’s announcement of a protest regarding the increased cost of living, inflation, insecurity and challenges facing Nigeria was not made jointly by the two unions.
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“We cannot join the protest because the decision was not taken collectively. It is very clear that by virtue of the letter, there is no way we can join the protest,” he said.
“We are writing to address a matter of mutual concern and our disappointment regarding the recent unilateral issuance of two days’ national protest with specified dates.
“You will recall that both centres issued a joint statement with a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.
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“This ultimatum will expire on Thursday, February 22nd, 2024 and the right thing to do was for both leaders to review the situation and agree on the way forward prior to convening our respective NEC meetings.”
Etim insisted that a decision about the strike should have been made collectively, ensuring that the interests and perspectives of all parties involved are duly considered.
“This is the way other leaders of both centres have worked together from the time of SECSCAN to when TUC was formally registered,” he added.
Meanwhile, NLC and TUC had given the Nigerian government the ultimatum to implement a 16-point agreement they had reached with them back on October 2, 2023.
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“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,” they said.
“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 defence 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 the 9th day of February 2024.”