The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has joined the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in threatening to shut down activities in the country on September 28 if the federal government refuses to reverse the recent hike in petrol price and electricity tariff.
The decision came as the national executive council of the NLC agreed with the decision of its central working committee to stage a nationwide protest on September 28.
The NLC said it had finalised plan to stage the nationwide rally to protest the increase in the prices of petrol and electricity tariff.
The TUC had issued a seven-day ultimatum, resolving to embark on a strike on September 23 if the federal government fails to meet its demands on the increases. However, a statement issued on Tuesday night said its ultimatum has been shifted to the midnight of September 28.
The statement which was signed by the TUC president, Quadri Olaleye, and its secretary-general Musa-Lawal Ozigi, called on the international community to place a “visa ban on all corrupt Nigerian politicians who have looted the country and people if its resources.”
“The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria after an exhaustive meeting held to review its mobilisation strategies on the forthcoming strike to protest fuel hike and electricity tariff resolved that the congress is going to work in collaboration with its sister Labour Centre, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the civil society allies to execute the strike,” he said.
According to the president, consequent upon this, the ultimatum which should expire by midnight of today September 22 has been shifted to September 28 for “effective and maximum effect.”
He appealed to Nigerians, especially those in the informal sector, to bear with the labour union while the industrial action lasts.
“You will recall that this government during its electioneering campaigns in 2014 told the world there is nothing like a subsidy. We were told that they will build refineries, all that are history now. We run a mono-economy and any hike in fuel automatically will have an adverse effect on us yet successive governments tow that path because they are not creative,” he said.