On Monday, July 31, 2023, a meeting between the Federal Government and Organized Labor in the Presidential Villa was deadlocked once more.
This comes as organized labor announces that its planned statewide strike in opposition to the elimination of fuel subsidies would go forward.
Wednesday is when the strike is supposed to start.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), two unions, spoke following a Monday meeting with government officials at the presidential mansion.
The NLC’s Joe Ajaero said the plan for employees to begin a nonviolent protest on Wednesday is still in place.
He dispelled worries that thugs might take over the protest, claiming that such occurrences have never happened in the history of labor protests.
Ajaero, members from the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and other labor union delegates attended the conference on Monday.
On the government side, those present included, among others, Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to the president.
The meeting between officials from the administration and the labor unions was subsequently postponed until Tuesday at 12pm.