NLC gives ultimatum for government to withdraw suit against it

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The Nigeria Labour Congress given the federal government until Friday, August 11 to withdraw the suit against the union for embarking on a nationwide protest.

A statement by the President and Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the general Secretary said it would embark on a nationwide strike from Monday August 14, 2023, if the court summon is not withdrawn.

It said the decision was made during its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

The Organised Labour had on Wednesday embarked on nationwide protest driven by the perceived delay by the government to provide relief from economic hardships resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy.

However, the protest which was supposed to continue on Thursday was suspended after the leadership of the NLC and TUC met with President Bola Tinubu.

Following the protest, the Federal Ministry of Justice had filed a contempt of court against the union through the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

The NLC in the statement alleged that the Ministry of Justice and NICN of trying to truncate the tenets of democracy and silence the voice of Nigerian worker.

The Union noted that though it had agreed to suspend its protests based on its meeting with the President, it will embark on a nationwide if the contempt of court charges was not withdrawn.

Other resolutions of the NEC meeting are to suspend further protest on the Nationwide Mass Protest, to continue to maintain the required vigilance needed to hold government accountable on its assurances and governance in general and to commit to the terminal date of August 19, 2023, within which the Issues around the Petroleum price hike will be agreed given the assurances of the President and the National Assembly.

Writing by Annabel Nwachukwu

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