The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to meet with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) today, September 18, 2023, to address issues surrounding a potential industrial action. The Director of Information at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, made this announcement in a statement released on Sunday.
The meeting, called by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, aims to resolve pending matters and prevent a looming indefinite strike. The Minister emphasized the importance of unions engaging in discussions with the government to maintain industrial harmony and ensure economic stability.
The statement quoted Minister Lalong as saying, “The administration of President Bola Tinubu will always engage organized labor and respond to its concerns after due consultation and negotiations in order to guarantee industrial harmony, which is critical to the attainment of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
A source within the NLC confirmed that the labor congress would attend the meeting to hear the Federal Government’s response to their concerns.
This development follows the NLC’s recent two-day warning strike, which was initiated due to increasing hardship and suffering resulting from the removal of fuel subsidies. The NLC had given notice of a possible indefinite shutdown of the economy if the government did not take steps to address the challenges faced by Nigerians within a specific timeframe.
The meeting between the Federal Government and the NLC is expected to be a significant step toward resolving these issues and ensuring labor peace in the country.