The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is set to embark on an indefinite strike over the failure of the Federal Government to meet its demands following the removal of fuel subsidy in May.
Joe Ajaero the Congress chairman in an interview on Channels television on Monday said the union was frustrated with the government’s lack of progress and that it had no choice but to threaten a strike. “We agree that the Federal Government has had more than enough time for the past four months and that even if there is a commitment, between now and the next four days, issues will be resolved,” Ajaero said.
“And we hope that the minister [Simon Lalong] will work with us within these next few days to make sure we resolve the problem.”  The NLC’s demands include a review of the minimum wage, a workable roadmap to the CNG alternative, the fixing of the country’s refineries, and the payment of lecturers’ salary arrears. The union had held a second meeting with the Federal Government on Monday, but the meeting ended in a deadlock. Ajaero warned that the NLC would be forced to declare an indefinite strike if the government failed to meet its demands by the end of the week.