The Federal Government appears to be jittery about the planned labour strike on September 28 to protest the recent increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol and hike in electricity tariffs.
To this effect, the government would be meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday, to persuade them shelve the idea of an indefinite strike and protest over the twin issues.
At the proposed meeting, the government is expected to unfold its palliative plans during the parley which would hold at the Banquet hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, according to spokesman of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Charles Akpan.
Akpan, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, disclose in a statement, on Wednesday, on the same day both unions have asked Nigerians to prepare for the measured actions, meant to force the government to revert to the original price status on both items.
The statement, read: “The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige will be hosting a meeting with the Organised Labour. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, 2020, and the venue is the Banquet hall, Presidential Villa, by 3pm.”
The FG and the unions had met penultimate Tuesday but the dialogue ended in a deadlock following the failure of the government to reverse the price increase or offer palliatives to cushion the effects on the workers.
The NLC and TUC subsequently declared strike and protest scheduled to commence from Tuesday.
Both unions said they would collaborate to execute the industrial action for maximum effect.
Rising from a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the National Executive Council of the NLC comprising the chairpersons of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory endorsed the decision earlier taken by the Central Working Committee of the Congress on the strike last Wednesday.
The CWC had handed down a two-week ultimatum to the FG to reverse the price hike or face industrial action.
The TUC had also mobilized its affiliate members to participate in the proposed civil disobedience.
