Labour unions suspend nationwide strike in Nigeria

*The joint National Executive Council of Organised Labour evening  Wednesday, November 15 suspends the workers’ indefinite nationwide strike, following a meeting and deliberations with the Federal Government, led by Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced the suspension of their earlier indefinite industrial action.

ConsumerConnect reports the joint National Executive Council (NEC) of Organised Labour reached the decision to end the strike evening  Wednesday, November 15, 2023, after a meeting and deliberations on the status quo with the Federal Government, led by Malam Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA).

Recall the Labour leaders last week had directed the unions’ affiliates to urge their members to activate an indefinite national strike from Tuesday, November 14.

Confirming their decision to suspend the nationwide industrial action while featuring on Channels TV Wednesday evening, Festus Osifo, President of TUC said the Oganised Labour had received a commitment from the Malam Ribadu-led meeting that those arrested for the recent physical assault Joe Ajaero, President of NLC, in Owerri, Imo State capital, would be prosecuted.

The country’s NSA reportedly pledged to bring both parties back to the table to iron out all issues in dispute, as he tendered an unreserved apology on behalf of the Federal Government for the alleged brutalisation Ajaero and other members of the Congress in the South-Eastern state.

Imo Elders’ intervention

Earlier, members of the Imo Elders Council had met with Ajaero towards resolving the impasse with the Imo State Government nay Nigerian Government.

The Elders met with the NLC President in Abuja, FCT, to intervene in the crisis of confidence between the state government and the NLC.

Cletus Iluomuanya, Chairman of the Imo State Elders Council, who spoke to reporters in Owerri, upon their return from Abuja, said that the meeting with Ajaero was successful.

According to him, there was light at the end of the tunnel in regard to the national strike.

Iluomuanya stated that Ajaero is an Imo State son, and would surely respect Imo Elders in this regard.