State NLC, TUC order workers to join strike
Samuel Bolaji, Animasahun Salman, Tukur Muntari, Abiodun Nejo, Chima Azubuike, Chika Otuchikere, and Armstrong Bakam
Following the Nigeria Labour Congress's declaration of a two-day warning strike, various state chapters of the organized labor union have stated their willingness to join the strike.
In separate contacts with our correspondents, the leadership of the state chapters of the labor unions stated that they had instructed their members to participate in the warning strike scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, September 5 and 6, 2023.
Mrs Agnes Sessi, Chairman of the NLC Lagos Chapter, told our correspondent on Sunday that the Lagos NLC would join the nationwide strike.
"We are subject to our national leadership's authority, and whatever is decided at the national level is binding on us." So, absolutely, we're going on strike," Sessi confirmed.
Abdullahi Jungle, chairman of the Sokoto State NLC, also told The PUNCH that the union in the state would mobilize members to join the two-day warning strike.
The chairman stated that members of the council will meet on Sunday to discuss the arrangements.
"Yes, we are joining the strike, and we are already mobilizing our members."
"We are meeting today to discuss how to proceed, but I can assure you that we will join the strike," Jungle stated.
The Kano State chapter of the NLC has stated that it will participate in the union's national body's scheduled warning strike and demonstration.
The state NLC chairman, Kabiru Inuwa, made the announcement in a phone chat with The PUNCH on Sunday, saying the decision to go on strike was made during the National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
"We will hold our State Executive Council meeting today (Sunday) around 3 p.m. to finalize the plans for the start of the warning strike on Tuesday."
"So, we are going to join the strike as directed by our union's national headquarters because we attended the NEC where the decision was made," Inuwa explained.
In addition, the NLC's Ekiti State chapter said that its members would join the union's national leadership's two-day warning strike.
Kolapo Olatunde, the state chairman, said members in Ekiti State would join the two-day warning strike if the Federal Government did not act to prevent it.
"If the necessary is not done before then," Olatunde said, adding that members in Ekiti State had already received information from the national body on the topic.
"There is correspondence toward the decision, and there is a national communique to that effect, which is already with our members." It is a group choice."
Similarly, Ibrahim Fika, the General Secretary of the NLC in Gombe State, said they had got notification of the strike and will participate.
This was revealed by Fika in a conversation with our journalist on Saturday.
According to him, the state union will only mobilize following its State Executive Council meeting on Monday.
"This is national," he remarked. Even if we do not mobilize, the industrial union headquarters will. However, because we just came from Abuja on Friday and today being the weekend, we may hold our State Executive meeting on Monday in Gombe State.
"I'm sure the headquarters will communicate with them," Fika added, "but we will have our SEC meeting on Monday so that we can go for action the next day."
The Niger State chapter of the NLC announced a critical meeting with all of its affiliate organisations.
When our correspondent arrived to the council's Labour House headquarters on the IBB Road at 3 p.m. on Sunday, a worker at the entrance informed us that the members had gone into a vital meeting in preparation for the warning strike.
He stated that the leadership of practically all affiliate organisations, including the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Medical and Health Workers Union, Hotel Workers Union, tertiary institution unions, and public service unions, were present.
The PUNCH had earlier called the NLC's Niger State Secretary, Mohammed Salihu, to inquire about the State Council's intentions for the warning strike. He declined to respond, claiming that only the chairman had the authority to speak on the strike.
The secretary later contacted to notify our correspondent that the strike would go ahead as scheduled, but that the modalities will be presented in a news conference today (Monday).
The Bauchi State Chapter of the NLC has also stated that its National Secretariat has informed them about the strike and that it is prepared to join it.
Comrade Shu'aibu Dauda, the State NLC chairperson, revealed this in a phone call with our correspondent on Sunday.
He stated that because it was a direction from the national secretariat, they had no choice but to carry it out.
"Not only have we been informed, but I was present at the National Executive Council meeting where the strike decision was made."
"We are following the NLC tradition that whenever you attend a NEC, when you return to your state, you will call for a State Executive Council meeting where all the affiliates will be present and you will discuss and convey the National Secretariat's resolution." That is precisely what we shall accomplish tomorrow (Monday).
"We are ready to join the strike because it is a directive from the National Secretariat, and this has been unanimously agreed upon by all NLC chapters in Nigeria, with no exception," Dauda said.
