The National Economic Council on Thursday urged organised labour to reconsider its decision to embark on a nationwide strike on October 3, 2023.
According to The PUNCH, the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang said this after the 136th meeting of NEC.
He said “Council looked at the implications of the strike for the economy and the nation and thus urge members to continue to engage with the leadership of their respective states and to appeal to them to shelve the action and continue on the path of dialogue with the federal government.”
Governor Mutfwang underscored the Council’s consensus that the proposed strike could have dire consequences for the nation’s economy.
On September 26, Nigeria’s two major workers’ unions revealed plans to begin an indefinite strike on October 3 to protest against a cost of living crisis after the scrapping of petrol subsidy.
The National Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress said on Tuesday they would begin the strike on October 3.
“It’s going to be a total shutdown…until the government meets the demand of Nigerian workers, and in fact Nigerian masses,” the union leaders affirmed in a joint statement.
They said, “The Federal Government has refused to meaningfully engage and reach agreements with organised labour on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigeria workers and masses.”
