The Trade Union Congress (TUC) is at loggerheads with it’s sister union, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), alleging the latter of taking a unilateral decision on the two-day nationwide industrial action planned for February 27 and 28, 2024.
According to TUC Secretary General Nuhu Toro, in a letter to the NLC leadership dated February 19, 2024, the Joe Ajaero-led labour group failed to carry the Festus Osifo-led trade association along before declaring a planned strike despite that the two groups unanimously issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement its agreement with the Organised Labour and address the mounting economic crisis of survival in Nigeria.
The TUC stressed that expiration of the 14-day ultimatum is today (Thursday) and a new decision was expected to be jointly reached, however the NLC undermined the organization.
According to Toro, it was deliberate act by the NLC as it was not an isolated incidence, adding that they had no aversion to the national strike because it was in the national interest.
He further stated that the implementation of the decision should be unilateral as it was also made unilaterally.
“It is important that this is the third time that such unilateral declaration is happening under your leadership, we are therefore constrained to formally put this on record as various discussions, communications and interventions have failed. First and second time could pass as human error but a third time would in our opinion translate to an intentional act to undermine us.
“Also note that we are not averse to the issuance of your resolution because our members equally feel the pain, even if it’s a weeklong national strike, but we have a huge problem with the unilateral declaration for a process we both muted and agreed, because our members are equally concerned about the rising cost of living and not particularly the ultimatum, why can’t we see through the ultimatum that expires within the same period before jointly addressing other issues of mutual concern or at worst consolidate them?
“For the avoidance of doubt, we fully understand that NLC is an independent labour force centre that has the right to take independent decision, it is pertinent that when such decisions are taken unilaterally, there is need to go ahead and implement unilaterally.”
