NLC

Abuja, Feb. 28, 2024: The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it has suspended its second day nationwide streets protest over hunger and economic hardship in the country.

Mr Joe Ajaero, NLC President said this in a communique jointly signed with Mr Ismail Bello, Acting General Secretary of the Congress at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the decision was taken by the National Executive Council of the NLC when it reviewed and assess the effectiveness of the execution of the first day of the nationwide protest.

“NEC-in-session resolved to suspend street action for the second day of the protest having achieved overwhelming success thus attained the key objectives of the two-day protest on the first day.

“”However, nationwide action continues tomorrow with simultaneous press conferences across all the states of the federation by the state Councils of the Congress including the National Headquarters,” he said

Ajaero said the NLC had extended the seven -day ultimatum given to government by another seven days and would now expire  on March 13.

He said the NLC expected the government to implement all the earlier agreement of  Oct. 2, 2023 and other demands presented in their letter at the nationwide protest.

He said the NLC would meet and decide on further lines of action if,on the expiration of the 14-day, the government refused to comply with the demands as contained in the ultimatum.

Ajaero said NEC commended Nigerians, its affiliates, state councils, workers and civil society allies for peacefully demonstrating their outrage on the hardship imposed by the government and its twin altars, the IMF and the World Bank.

He said NEC also deeply appreciated Nigerian workers and masses for sending a strong message to the powers that be on their united resolve to demand accountability from those who occupy positions of leadership in our nation.

He expressed NLC commitment to continue to defend and promote the interests and desires of Nigerian workers and the downtrodden masses.

Abuja, Feb. 26, 3024: The  Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has alleged that the State has perfected plans to launch attack against the two-day nationwide peaceful rallies it scheduled for Feb. 27 and 28.

NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero made the allegation in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

In a swift response, however, the Federal Government has denied the allegation describing it as “speculative” .

Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy said, by raising the allegation, “NLC is feeling guilty in hatching its hidden agenda influenced by partisan considerations’.

Onanuga spoke on the alleged attack, said the planned protest is illegal as it is against a subsisting order of court.

He said the NLC had hidden agenda because most of the issues raised by labour for embarking on the protest had been addressed by the government.

Ajaero in his statement titled, “As the State Prepares to Unleash Violence on us” alleged that one of the groups being primed to attack the peaceful rallies is by a nebulous name, Nigeria Civil Society Forum (NCSF).

“NCSF is one of the emergency groups put together, funded, promoted and remote-controlled by government to cause violence against our members for electing to peacefully  protest against the hunger in the land.

“We would want the State to know that the solution to our horrible economic situation and hunger is not by  suppressing peaceful dissent or inflicting violence on peacefully protesting citizens,” he said.

Ajaero insisted that the NLC  and civil society allies were moving ahead with the protest rallies against economic hardship and insecurity in line with the decision of the National Executive Council.

“As citizens, we have a fundamental right to peaceful protest and history bears us witness that our protests  are always peaceful except in instances of State-engineered violence.

“In light of this, we advise the State  to put on its thinking cap and find solutions to the pains it continues to cause the people instead of  further dehumanising them,” he said.

Onanuga, however insisted that the issues raised by the labour had been addressed by the government, including the payment of wage award of N35,000 for six months.

He said the money had been paid to civil servants up till the month of January 2024 and only that of the month of February is outstanding.

The President’s aide said the federal government had inaugurated  a 37-Member Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage to review and come up with an acceptable and sustainable Minimum Wage for the Nigerian Workers.

He said government had made substantial financial commitments on the provision of CNG Buses and conversion Kits.

According to Onanuga, the busses will be rolled out very soon to alleviate the transportation challenges being faced by Nigerians.

Abuja, Feb. 17, 2024:The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will embark on a two-day nationwide protest from Feb. 27 to Feb. 28, over the worsening economic hardship and insecurity in the country.

Mr Joe Ajaero, President of NLC said this at a news conference at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Friday in Abuja.

Ajaero said that the NEC of the Congress met to discuss the state of the nation,  and the non-implementation of the agreement reached with government.

According to him,  NEC unanimously noted its deep disappointment and condemned the action of the federal government in refusing to implement the agreements reached.

“NEC in session follows its decisions that it stands to rectify the 14 days ultimatum issued to the federal government within which to implement the agreement, and address the mounting crisis of the survival of Nigerians.

“That the 14 days ultimatum notices expires on the midnight of Feb 22, that if on the expiration the Congress is not satisfied with  government compliance with the conditions of the notice.

“Congress will be at liberty to take action that will compelled government to implement the agreement.

“NEC in session declare a two day nationwide protest on Feb. 27 and 28 to demonstrate outragre on the mounting hardship and insecurity aceoss the nation .

“If our demands are met after the nationwide protest, NEC will ensure to issue a seven day notice that will expire on March 2, to the federal government, after which an indefinite nationwide strike will commence,”he said.

He added that, Nigerians workers and people are not interested in the empty talk but action.

He, therefore called on all its affiliates, state councils and civil societies to start mobilising across the nation for effect action as Feb. 22, as its approaches.

The NLC president said that there was need for urgent solution to address the continued suffering of the Nigerian people and workers.

He said that NEC in session calls for immediate action from Federal Government to rectify this grievances, and restore faith in the Democratic  process and social dialogue.

Abuja, Jan. 25, 2024: The President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero, on Thursday decried the current state of the nation’s economy.

Ajaero, who called for the return of fuel subsidy and other policies, said this would make life easy and meaningful for Nigerians.

He made the call during a panel discussion at the 21st Daily Trust Dialogue and Presentation of 2023 African Award of the Year in Abuja.

The dialogue, with the theme “Tinubu’s Economic Reforms: Gainers and Losers’’, was organised by Media Trust Group.

The NLC President expressed concern on the policies of the Federal Government, describing them as Palliative Policies that has kept Nigerians in perpetual poverty.

Ajaero stressed that Government policies, from the time of President Muhammadu Buhari to the current government have made life difficult for Nigerians.

“The Nigerian people are the losers; look at the polices, from devaluation of naira, cashless economy, new naira notes, removal of fuel subsidy, Value Added Tax, increase in taxes and many others.

“These are being done without commemorating the increase in salaries of the Nigerian workers.

“Many companies have closed down. A lot of businesses have wind down, youths are leaving the country, the exchange rate to a dollar is N1300 as at yesterday.

“The people in government always give the same excuse for removal of fuel subsidy, ” Buhari said he removed fuel subsidy, and Tinubu came and removed the subsidy so that we will save money.

“But the government is still borrowing money. So, where is the money that was saved as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.  The Nigerian people are suffering. A bag of corn now is over N50,000” Ajaero said.

The NLC president however said that there is still hope for the administration of President Tinubu.

“The difference that Tinubu can make is to change. We cannot continue to be doing the same thing that Buhari did and expect different results. There is a need to reverse policies that are causing so much pain to Nigerian workers”.

Abeokuta, Dec. 15, 2023: The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ogun has declared war against foreign companies engaging in casualisation of workers and other forms of indecent employment practices.

The NLC Chairman in the state, Hammed Benco made the declaration on Thursday while speaking during the induction of the new executive leadership of local government into the State Executive Council of the NLC.

Benco said the NLC had been receiving complaints from its affiliates bodies on the dehumanization of Nigerians working in companies owned by foreigners, vowing that such company would be shutdown.

He said the NLC had set up a private sector membership drive committee to ensure that workers in all companies operating in the state were properly registered under NLC affiliates.

“We have discovered over time that we have issues with private companies maltreating Nigerians, using them as slaves in their companies.

“I know most of them (foreign companies) are not having condition of service for their workers.

” We want to make sure that we reduce the issue of inhumanisation of workers in various companies to the barest minimum.

“The best thing we can do is to put up a very strong committee to ensure that we have almost all companies registered and enlisted into one of the affiliates of NLC,” he said .

The NLC chairman noted that the objective was to ensure that all workers in those companies were well catered for, well registered under an affiliate for collective bargaining and for industrial peace.

” We will ensure that the rivalry between the private and the public sector in terms of employment is reduced to the barest minimum.

“We must continue to engage our people in these private companies to come out and tell us what they are facing in these companies because if we don’t have complains we can’t act.

In his remark, the state Head of Service, Kolawole Fagbohun called for more collaboration between the government and state workers.

“What we have in Ogun is a collaborative effort where when we have challenge, we put our heads together to find solutions to those challenges,” Fagbohun said.

Abuja, Nov. 15, 2023: The National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on Wednesday urged the NLC and Trade Unions Congress (TUC) to call off their two-day-old strike.

In a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Zakari Mijinyawa, Head, Strategic Communication, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Ribadu also condemned the attack on NLC president, Mr Joe Ajaero in Owerri on Nov. 1.

He said ONSA was concerned about the strike and was worried about its implications on the livelihoods of Nigerians and its potential impact on economic, security and other strategic national interests.

Ribadu noted that he immediately intervened on learning about Ajaero’s travails in Owerri as attested to by NLC leadership.

“ONSA regrets the incident and condemns it entirely as it is against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Tinubu and his administration.

“The Federal Government will never condone such act.

“A fallout of the incident was the directive given to relevant authorities to conduct thorough investigation and to bring culprits to book.

“Available update indicates that some arrests have been made in this regard and the outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.

“The Federal Government, through ONSA, therefore appeals to labour leadership to call off the strike and allow dialogue already in progress be exhausted,’’ Ribadu said in the statement.

Abuja, Nov. 15, 2023: The Nigeria Labour Congress (NAN) has urged its affiliates members to ensure the compliance of the ongoing nationwide indefinite strike in the country.

Mr Emma Ugboaja, NLC General Secretary said this in a letter addressed to members of state councils and affiliate unions on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ugboaja said that the assessment of the first day of the strike showed more than expected compliance.

According to him, gaps that were expected on the first day were surprisingly not that very visible.

“Just like an aeroplane taking off will experience a little bit of drag in lifting off the tarmac, ours today was a smooth and cleaner take off.

“We doff our hats for you all and congratulate you for your doggedness.

“You surpassed our expectations thus we urge you to gird your loins and make it more compelling tomorrow until the Government meets our demands.

“Continue the mobilisation and let the success continue,”’he said.

The NLC general secretary however, commended the affiliates and State Councils for complying with the directive of the National Executive Council (NEC) resolution to begin a nationwide strike.

He added the, the congress salutes your resoluteness and determination in ensuring that all of our workplaces were shut down completely and workers stayed at home.

“The solidarity and single-mindedness in delivering on our resolutions has put a lie to those who wants to see a contrary outcome.

“This have thoroughly made a resounding statement around the nooks and crannies of our nation.

”We remain committed to greater success in this action which can only happen with our collective efforts and determination to free our members in Imo state,” he said.

Ugboaja added that we must ensure that the government is held accountable for its use of violent abduction and brutality as a tool in workplace engagement.

Abuja, Nov. 7, 2023: The Confederation of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups has appealed to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve its planned  nationwide strike.

The Director-General of the group, Dr Kailani Muhammed, made the appeal in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

Muhammed said that such planned action was capable of disrupting the entire fabrics of the economy and socio-democratic processes of the country.

“We are using this forum to passionately appeal to NLC, the umbrella body of Nigerian workers, to shelve its planned strike on the physical assault on the NLC President , Comrade Joe Ajaero in Imo State.

“We believe that the NLC knows the consequences of the planned strike fully well, more than anybody else,” the director-general said.

He said that the planned strike would have devastating effect on the nation

According to him, it might derail and stampede the Nigerians economy and create unnecessary chaos by its consequential associated halting of all economy activities in the country.

“The common man on the street, who the NLC protects, will be more negatively impacted. This is because the already high cost of goods and services will soar to unimaginable proportions.

“This is deadly because they cannot be bought down with the change of situations. As we all know, prices do not ever come down in Nigeria once they go up.

“It is in view of the above submissions that we are making this appeal, firstly as concerned citizens and more importantly, as true democrats, whose main focus is the well-being of the Nigerian nation,” Muhammed said.

According to him, NLC should, as a matter of contingency, remove any planned strike on its agenda to solve any issue that might have been raised between the union and Imo State government.

“Rather, it should engage the Imo State government on a roundtable for an amicable solution, instead of using aggressive methods that worsens situations, he said.