In the event that the Minister of Labor, Simon Lalong, attends the scheduled meeting with the Federal Government on Monday, October 30, 2023, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced its intention to boycott.
News About Nigeria reports that this was made public on Sunday during a news conference in Abuja by Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of the NLC. He has previously informed reporters about the difficulties encountered by Imo State laborers.
Lalong received criticism from Ajaero for his inability to build a cordial relationship with organized labor.
“We may possibly convene a meeting with the Federal Government tomorrow (Monday) to assess compliance with the agreements pertaining to the fuel subsidy removal palliatives,” Ajaero remarked. “However, I must make it clear that the Minister of Labour and Employment will be excluded from this meeting, as we refuse to engage with the Federal Government in his presence.”
The subject of the continuing negotiations between the government and labor unions is the potential for industrial action once the fuel subsidy is eliminated.
Ajaero also issued a dire threat, saying that on Wednesday, November 1, the NLC would organize its members to converge on Imo State.
Ajaero charged that the Imo State Government was infringing upon the workers’ rights in the state. He bemoaned the fact that unpaid pay resulted in the terrible deaths of people because Governor Hope Uzodimma had disregarded their wellbeing.
The NLC leader cited a number of violations committed by the Imo State government against its employees. These include, among other things, the refusal to honor previous agreements, specifically the agreement reached on January 9, 2021, outstanding salary arrears extending to approximately 20 months, the unfair classification of workers as phantom employees, similar classification of pensioners, and unaddressed gratuity arrears.
