NLC, TUC suspend planned strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended their planned strike to protest the shortage of naira banknotes. The strike action previously scheduled for today, Wednesday, March 29, has now been called off.

By extension, the Association Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the union of university lecturers, would no longer embark on the planned strike.

The decision was made following a joint press conference held by NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC’s Festus Osifo in Abuja. The unions plan to monitor the availability of cash at commercial banks for two weeks before deciding on their next course of action.

Ajaero explained that the decision to suspend the strike was made after being briefed by the state councils of unions in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. He added that while there has been compliance with the unions’ directive, doubts remain over the sustainability of the compliance. The NLC and TUC have called for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to play its role as regulator and sanction non-compliant banks.

The TUC president gave assurance that the union would continue to protect the interests of workers and Nigerians. Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, assured Nigerians that the Federal Government had averted the nationwide strike planned by NLC and the TUC. Ngige coordinated negotiations between the unions and the CBN to avert the strike.