After a four-hour meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on Sunday in Abuja, the leadership of the Organised Labour says there is no going back on the nationwide industrial action slated to start on Monday, June 3, 2024.
The National Assembly had pleaded with labour to suspend its planned strike and return to the negotiating table, cautioning labour leaders to consider the potential collateral damage of industrial action, which may lead to massive job losses.
But President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo who spoke on behalf of labour comprising of TUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday, said the outcome of the meeting would have to be related to organs of both labour centres before any decision could be reached.
He further expressed disappointment that the government was still dilly-dallying and not ready to sign off a living wage for Nigerian workers despite its pleas urging labour not to cripple the economy.
The National Assembly intervened in the deadlock between the federal government and labour unions, acknowledging that both parties have valid reasons for their positions.
The meeting is a last-ditch effort to reach a consensus and avert the strike scheduled to begin on Monday.
-Festus Osifo-TUC President
-Sen. Godswill Akpabio-Senate President
-Mohammed Idris-Information Minister
-Hon. Tajudeen Abbas-Speaker of the House of Representatives