Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, says the recent arbitrary arrest and detention of some officials of the union by security operatives, is sufficient provocation to call a nationwide strike.
Ajaero was speaking at a meeting in Abuja Monday, with Simon Lalong, Minister of Labour and Employment.
The meeting was called by Lalong, in an effort to persuade Organised Labour to stand down another contemplated strike.
While Ajaero condemned the raid on the office of the Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the arrest and detention of some of its leaders by security operatives, Lalong lamented that past industrial actions by labour have adversely affected the nation’s economy.
The minister promised to cooperate with labour to address the demands of the unions in a fair and equitable manner.
He appealed to the labour leaders to be realistic and frank in the discussions.
The minister also expressed optimism that the meeting would lead to a resolution that is of national interest.
Responding, Ajaero said the labour delegation was attending the meeting with reservation, considering that several such meetings held in the past had failed to generate the desired feedback.
He also noted that the previous strikes that the minister referred to, were prompted by the hardship and frustration suffered by Nigerians on account of the government’s removal of the fuel subsidy regime.
He said not even one of the agreements with the Federal Government had been addressed despite a series of meetings that had been held.
