The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), says it will embark on indefinite strike on Friday if no progress is made on the ongoing talks with the federal government before the expiration of the ultimatum given.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja after the meeting between the federal government and NLC that was called to avert an indefinite strike ended without reaching any of the demands of the NLC.
Checks revealed that the federal government has also invited the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for further talks today, at the Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja.
The NLC has also proposed that the federal government should grant a 200 per cent Wage Award to workers as part measures to cushion the effect of the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products.
Ajaero, while speaking to journalists at the end of the meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment said the talks at the meeting were meaningful, but with no agreement to tell the story.
He said: “It is with great honour that we showed up for this meeting to show our commitment once again to the Nigerian project. We came with mixed feelings on whether it will work or not because we have had so many meetings from beyond this level that did not yield anything, but as great optimists we are here in the hope that something will happen.
“You can see that there was no agreement on any issue, there is no CNG anywhere and refineries are not working neither has anything been done on the issue of wage award and cash transfers or the ASUU issues.
“However, we believe that between now and next few days when the ultimatum will expire that something will happen.”
“We had meaningful discussion on issues relating to our demands. We equally discussed frankly on issues bordering on the coup plotted and executed by the Nigerian Police against the NURTW which had led to the sideling of the democratically elected leadership of the union.”
On his part, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, said the meeting with the leadership of NLC was fruitful and was still progressing.
He noted that discussions on many of the items which the NLC had tabled previously before the federal government had not reached the final stages.
Lalong, said the government appreciated the genuine grievances of the organised labour and was ready to address them.