Lvarious labour unions in the country have concluded plans to embark on a nationwide strike  shutting down the economy directing their members to stay off work from as from October 3rd..

They gave the directive in line with the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress for the nationwide strike in protest against the failure of the Ahmed Bola Tinubu government to enact policies to mitigate the harship of the removal of fuel subsidy and other anti-people policies.

Already, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), in a statement by its president, Williams Akporeha, and general secretary, Afolabi Olawale, urged members to ensure full compliance by setting up compliance and monitoring teams in all operational locations.

NUPENG in the statement dated September 28 stated that: “Consequent upon the joint resolution of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress as the outcome of the joint National Executive Council meeting of the two Labour Federation, held on 25th September, 2O23, we wish to inform all our members in the formal and informal sectors of the Nigeria oil and gas industry and alert the general public that the rank and file members of our union are hereby directed to commence full mobilisation and ensure an unwavering compliance with the directive of the two labour centres to all affiliate unions to embark on a nationwide industrial action from midnight of 3rd October 2023″.

From another front, it is obvious that a nationwide blackout is imminent as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) also directed its members to commence full mobilisation to ensure compliance with the directive by the NLC.

The notice was issued by the NUEE acting general secretary, Dominic Igwebike, to its members.

It read, “Further to the notice of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on September 26, 2023, and Joint Press Conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress over the untold hardships being faced by Nigerians as a consequence of the high price of petroleum resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy, as well as other anti-labour policies by the government, the NLC and TUC have declared an indefinite and total shut down of the nation beginning on zero hours of Tuesday, 3rd October 2023.

“Hence, we are to totally withdraw our services and participate in street protests and rallies until the government responds to our demands”.

Equally, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in a notice dated September 28, and signed by its general secretary, Peters A. Adeyemi, instructed its members to withdraw their services.

NASU members across the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are by this circular directed to embark on total and comprehensive strike a room as directed with a view to getting the Federal Government to react positively to the demands of Labour,” it said.

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses And Midwives gave similar notice to its members on September 28.

It read, “You would recall that the Federal Government announced the removal of fuel subsidy during the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since May 2023, a decision that has meted untold hardship on the Nigerian workers and the less privileged”.

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