The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called off its nationwide industrial action embarked upon last Wednesday to kick against the increase in pump price of petrol from N86.50 to N145 per litre.
Labour suspended the strike on Sunday and said it would meet with the Federal Government again on ways to resolve issues amicably.
NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, who announced the suspension of the 4-day strike to journalists in Abuja after an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council, NEC, stressed that the fuel and electricity tariff issues would be discussed when they meet the FG again.
“NEC after due consultations with its constituents resolved to suspend with immediate effect, the action it commenced on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. The action is thus hereby suspended,” Wabba said.
He appealed to the government to play by the rules in its engagement with its constituent part, stakeholders and non-state actors as proof of its commitment to deepening democracy.
According to Wabba, the union’s action was taken in the best interest of the poor and in drawing government’s attention to the dangers of relying on importation of petroleum products as a sustainable strategy for making available petroleum products. He added that posterity would prove its position right.
Wabba said the strike action was successful despite both internal and external challenges.
Wabba said, “NEC reviewed the protest action and its impact across the nation, nothing the sacrifices of its members, responses of the generality of Nigerians, government’s attitude and the brutality of the police command where members were intimidated, harassed, arrested and detained unjustly.”
However, some Nigerians disagree with the NLC. They felt the union has lost its credibility especially with the crisis rocking body, which is now in two factions.
