NLC, TUC suspend strike

Due to an alleged attack on NLC President Joe Ajaero, the national executive councils of the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress suspended their nationwide strike on Wednesday night.

The unions claimed that Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, intervened and caused the suspension.

The organised private sector and the maritime operators, on the other hand, blasted the TUC and NLC for their industrial action, claiming it was poorly planned and untimely.

The Federal Government's capacity to reach its annual revenue target would be impacted by the strike, according to the OPS, which is made up of important economic participants.

According to information obtained by our correspondent, the organised labour meeting, which started a little after 7 p.m., lasted for almost an hour. During that time, representatives from different affiliates and state chapters discussed the conclusions of the meeting that took place between the NSA and organised labour leaders.

Tommy Etim, the TUC's National Deputy President, clarified that the strike was called off because of the unions' faith in Ribadu.

He stated, “The NECs of the NLC and the TUC have suspended the strike. We did this based on our trust in the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu who gave us his word. We also saw that he wasn’t playing politics with our demands and he was ready and promised to follow up with everything.”

Asked whether the suspension of the strike was indefinite, Etim said, “It is a temporary suspension. We are going to give them some time after which we will meet and if they fail to meet up, the strike resumes.

“We listened to the NSA and he listened to us. He noted that Ajaero didn’t do anything wrong by going to Imo State. We must commend the NSA and it is because of him that there is a suspension of the strike.”

The NSA had announced the arrest of two people they believed were involved in the attack that took place in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1. The labour leaders had met with them earlier on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the second day of the strike, in Abuja, the NSA disclosed this to labour leaders.

In addition, he expressed regret to organised labour for the assault on the NLC president.

Source