STRIKE: LABOUR LEADERS GO INTO HIDING AS FG MEETS AJERO

Emmanuel Thomas

Nigerian, May 17, 2016 – The fate of the strike scheduled for Wednesday May 18, remains unclear on Tuesday night as words remained elusive from labour leaders, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC), Comrade Aliu Wabba and President of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama.

It was the factional President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajero who addressed the press in Abuja in company of Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Oshiomhole said government has agreed to look into demands of labour, to reconstitute the Petroleum Products and Pricing Regulating Agency (PPPRA) and that government has set up a committee to meet with labour to look at issues arising from the imposition of N145 per litre of petrol on Nigerians. He said that the decision arrived out now is for labour to wait for two weeks to enable government resolve outstanding issues with labour.

Also speaking, Joe Ajero said that in view of inability of labour to mobilize workers for the strike it is better to wait for the two weeks to meet with the government committee for two weeks to amicably look at the issues involved.
Recall that the Nigerian government had on eve of the strike obtained an injunction stopping labour from embarking on the strike pending determination of the case. The injunction is expected to last for seven days.

Government obtained the judgment but fillers from TUC and NLC suggests that government was unable to serve the judgment on the authentic leaders of labour, suggesting that they are poised on embarking on the strike.
Checks by Starconnectmedia revealed that offices of the union were shut very early on Tuesday before the judgment could be served on the two union leaders.

Late Tuesday, the whereabouts of the union leaders were still unknown. However, the ultimatum of labour for government to revert the pump price of fuel to N86.50 and meet with labour expired at 12 AM Tuesday.