By Michael OChe
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have begun mobilising their members for possible nationwide industrial action following a deadlock in negotiations with the Federal Government over workers’ welfare, petrol prices and other outstanding demands.
The meeting, which took place at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on Thursday, ended without an agreement, prompting organised labour to give the government until Tuesday, October 27, to make tangible progress on the issues under discussion.
As part of the preparations, the unions directed their affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to mobilise their members ahead of a possible nationwide action should the next meeting fail to yield concrete commitments.
In a joint statement signed by the NLC Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, and the TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, the labour centres faulted the government delegation for its lack of preparedness during the negotiations.
Among the issues presented by the unions were demands for a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, a renegotiation of the national minimum wage, the implementation of agreed tax relief measures and the fulfilment of the terms of settlement with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
They also called for the resolution of outstanding demands by the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), particularly those relating to peculiar allowance, wage award and hazard allowance.
The statement noted that the meeting failed to produce any concrete outcome because the government representatives lacked the necessary mandate to engage meaningfully on the issues raised.
“Regrettably, the government delegation came unprepared and without the necessary mandates to engage substantively on these issues. No concrete commitments were secured, and the outstanding issues remain unresolved,” the unions said.
According to the labour centres, the Minister of Labour subsequently requested that the meeting be postponed until October 27 to enable the government to make adequate preparations and ensure the participation of relevant ministers, as well as heads of departments and agencies.
Despite the setback, the unions said they remained open to dialogue but cautioned that they would not tolerate further delays in addressing workers’ grievances.
The NLC also disclosed that the outcome of the meeting would be presented to its relevant organs, which would decide on the next course of action if the government failed to demonstrate meaningful progress at the next round of negotiations.
“We call on Nigerian workers and the general public to remain calm and resolute. Organised Labour will be attending the next meeting believing that government will deliver on each of the workers’ demands,” the statement added.
The unions reaffirmed their commitment to defending the interests of workers and the wider public through legitimate means, while urging their affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to remain vigilant and sustain mobilisation efforts pending the outcome of the next meeting.
The demands raised by organised labour touch on workers’ wages, allowances and general welfare, alongside broader economic concerns over the rising cost of living, particularly petrol prices and the implementation of tax relief measures.
The scheduled October 27 meeting is expected to offer the Federal Government and the labour unions another opportunity to resolve the outstanding issues and prevent an escalation of the dispute.
However, with the unions already directing their structures to prepare for possible nationwide action, the outcome of the next negotiations could determine whether the dispute is resolved through dialogue or progresses into industrial action.
