The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike action on October 3.

Joe Ajaero, national president of the NLC, told members of the congress via a Zoom meeting on Tuesday that the labour group’s National Executive Council (NEC) had resolved to embark on the strike.

After intimating their members of the planned industrial action, the NLC and TUC leadership then issued a joint statement on the matter.

The planned strike action is in protest against the government’s removal of fuel subsidy without first implementing palliative measures that could help ease the social and economic challenges Nigerians would have to contend with afterwards.

When FIJ phoned Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, for comments on the planned industrial action on Tuesday, he started by making it clear that there was no discord between the NLC and TUC.

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Onyeka further said people had speculated on a potential fallout between the two organisations because the TUC pulled out of a nationwide strike on September 5, 2023.

“We just gave a joint statement, so there is no disagreement,” Onyeka told FIJ.

“What we have are trade union negotiations, so, different arms negotiate with government in different ways, but we want the same goals.”

Onyeka went on to describe the allegation that the TUC was demanding N200,000 minimum wage payment from the government as “the makings of mischief makers”.

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“Minimum wage change is scheduled for 2024, so how can we be demanding N200,000 minimum wage now?” Onyeka said.

“What we are asking for is wage awards.

“Amongst other palliative measures, it is a form of palliative for this kind of situation. We can have 40 percent wage awards, but the government has not done that.”

When FIJ asked Onyeka if labour was expecting the Tinubu-led government to implement the N60,000 minimum wage and other palliative measures it had earlier promised Nigerians, he said, “The government is lying. Ask them about it, and you will see. They are saying many things but if you go to them, you will see that they are not doing anything and Nigerians are suffering.”

Onyeka told FIJ that if the government invites the unions for further negotiations before the strike action begins, they would honour the invitation.