embark on an indefinite strike if the Federal Government failed to meet its
demands by Friday (tomorrow).
The threat came barely two weeks after
the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment responded to the workers through a
letter, which the ULC said “largely failed to adequately address the critical
issues raised in our demands.”
The union issued the
strike threat after an emergency meeting of its National Administrative
Committee, which was held jointly with the National Strike Committee in
Lagos.
In a statement signed by the ULC President, Joe Ajaero, the union
urged Nigerians to take precaution and stock up necessities, saying, “The strike
will be very effective as we hope to cripple all modes of transportation within
the nation; ensure a total blackout nationwide; cut off petroleum product
supplies; and disrupt banking operations, which will make life a bit more
difficult for Nigerians.
“We regret these consequences on all of us,
but we hope that these measures will help us create a nation that is better
governed for the benefits of Nigerian workers and Nigerian
masses.”
Ajaero said that the strike had become necessary having
earlier issued a 14-day ultimatum to the FG as a result of the decision of the
Central Working Committee meeting of the congress on August 22, which expired on
September 8, 2017.
He said that in view of the government’s rejection of
the demands within the 14-day ultimatum, the ULC ordered an immediate issuance
of a 7-day final strike notice, which would expire on Friday.
He added,
“This course of action, though very painful to us at this time, is the only
alternative available to us as we have exhausted all known peaceful processes
towards an amicable resolution of the dispute.
“We, therefore, call on
all genuine patriots to join hands in solidarity with us to urge the Federal
Government and state governors to be kind enough to meet the demands of Nigerian
workers and masses.”
The Demands
The demands of the union
include the immediate payment of all arrears of salaries owed workers at all
levels of government without exception.
Ajaero added that other demands
were that “the Federal Government honours its 2009 agreement with university
lecturers under the umbrella of ASUU quickly and commences negotiations with
them on new issues so that our universities will re-open.
“The roads
leading to all the petroleum refineries and depots nationwide be repaired by
government to avoid the present carnage, wastage of products and properties on
these roads.
“That the government should demand that the Federal Ministry
of Labour and Employment set up a task force immediately to carry out factory
inspections as most of our factories are death traps.”
The workers are
also demanding an immediate review of the privatisation of the Power Holding
Company of Nigeria, among others.
