NLC, TUC Issue 14-Day Ultimatum To FG Over Non-Implementation Of Agreements
The Federal Government has been given 14 days to implement the 16-point agreement that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) made following the elimination of petrol subsidies. However, the parties have so far failed to do so.
Organised labour released a statement on Thursday, signed by union heads Joe Ajaero and Festus Usifo, expressing their disappointment that “the majority of these crucial agreements remain unmet or negligibly addressed, indicating a blatant disregard for the principles of good faith, welfare, and rights of Nigerian workers and Nigerians.” The statement noted that time has passed without any improvement in the situation.
The naira’s devaluation and the ill-planned increase in the price of PMS imposed by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were, according to the organised labour, the primary goals of the agreements struck with the federal government.
According to the report, the dual policies in Nigeria have had a devastating impact on the country’s economy.
Insecurity has taken on a new dimension, workers’ purchasing power has been drastically reduced, and millions of Nigerians are now suffering from widespread hunger. Many Nigerians are worried about the future and don’t know what to expect for their next meal.
The public’s level of fear and worry has reached nightmare proportions, and our government seems to be utterly unprepared to alleviate the immense weight it has placed on its citizens.
The federal government has failed to uphold its promises to honour these accords, which cover a broad variety of topics vital to the welfare of the Nigerian people and their workforce.
The case of the illegal and unlawful proscription of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) is one example of the many instances of government interference with union activities, including wage awards, palliative adjustments to improve access to public utilities, and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW)’s internal affairs.
“The working people and the public strongly regret and reject the government’s inability to keep its end of the bargain,” the statement said in part.