Economic Activities Slow Down as NLC Starts Two-Day Warning Strike

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Labour Congres (NLC) has embarked on a two-day warning strike in protest against the federal government’s failure to address the challenges caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.

Last week, Business Post reported that the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, said the strike would pause activities for two days of the industrial action.

President Bola Tinubu announced in his inaugural speech on May 29 that “fuel subsidy is gone“, which has since led to fuel prices as much as tripling nationwide and a rising cost of living.

The labour union is accusing the Tinubu-led government of abandoning the negotiations and failing to implement some of the resolutions from previous meetings with the government.

Although not all activities in the country have been grounded to a halt, economic activities in some parts have slowed down.

According to a Stanbic IBTC employee, who pled anonymity, despite the unconfirmed report that banks would join in the action, work was going on.

She said, “I am at work. My colleagues at the branch are also at work,” she said, adding, “Although I hear they’re dressing down. That’s all.”

Some public schools also closed down in the Alimosho local government area, with students sent back home.

This is the second strike happening under the President, whose tenure is just three months in.

On August 2, organised labour protested what it described as the anti-people policies of the administration of Mr Tinubu.

Organised Labour, which is made up of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and their affiliate unions demonstrated in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and several states, including Lagos, Abia, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Zamfara, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kwara, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo.

The protest followed a seven-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government demanding “the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government including the recent hike in PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) price, increase in public school fees, the release of the eight months withheld salary of university lecturers and workers”.

The union also demanded an upward review of the minimum wage from N30,000 to N200,000.