Ahead of Monday’s nationwide strike, the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Joint Action Front, Trade Union Congress and other labour unions on Friday began mobilising workers and other Nigerians to join the industrial action.
NLC, TUC and JAF, at a public symposium in Lagos in preparation for the strike action, said the Federal Government had failed to deliver on its campaign promises.
NLC Deputy President, Joe Ajaero; JAF’s Deputy Chairperson, Achike Chude, and the South-West Coordinator of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Kappo Samuel, were among the speakers at the symposium, which had the theme, ‘Nationwide strike and mass actions commencing September 28: issues and way forward.’
Ajaero, who was represented by Mr Chris Onyeka, urged Nigerians to show solidarity and join the cause to free the country from a “repressive government.”
According to him, “Nigerians are well familiar with the issues on the ground. The recent hikes in the prices of fuel and electricity at a time when other governments are lessening the socio-economic burdens on their citizens at this period of our exit from the COVID-19 pandemic are not acceptable. We condemn it and we are going to fight it. That is the duty we owe Nigerians and we call on everyone to join us.”
On his part, South-West NANS coordinator said, “There is no way we can be calling for the repair of refineries in 2020. The Federal Government needs to build at least five new refineries. Government should not be importing what we are able to produce. We are going to mobilise students to join the strike action.”
