The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has ordered an industrial action by the country’s public sector workers. The strike is scheduled to begin next Wednesday. The decision was issued by NLC President Joe Ajaero during a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
He also instructed that the NLC’s affiliate unions be ready for picketing exercises at all Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) branches across the country.
The NLC issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government last week to address the country’s gas and cash shortages. Speaking with journalists, Ajaero said the industrial action became the last resolve of the NLC following the expiration of the ultimatum.
He stated that the decision to picket CBN offices became essential since both the federal government and the CBN had shown little commitment to resolving the matter.
Ajaero bemoaned that, despite the supreme court’s order that the old N200, N500, and N1000 notes be declared legal money until December 31, 2023, the situation had worsened.
He said that workers could not get funds to pay for transportation to work or to buy food for their families.
He also criticized the petroleum industry’s price inconsistencies.
“Last week, we gave an ultimatum for the review of the cash crunch bedeviling the country, but we have discovered to our dismay that as at this moment not much effort has been made to ameliorate the situation, government is still foot dragging on these issues we raised,” Ajaero said.
“Based on this, we met again this morning to review our position and resolved that by Wednesday next week all CBN branches will be picketed, workers are directed to stay at home too because people cannot eat, workers can no longer go to the office, we have been pushed to the wall.
“We have decided to take our destiny in our hands, we have mobilised our workers on this exercise.”
