Strike: Tinubu’s Independence Day speech will address labour grievances – NEC

The National Economic Council (NEC) has dropped hints that President Bola Tinubu will address the problems and complaints of organized labor in his Independence Day speech.

After the Nigerian Labour Congress announced plans for a nationwide indefinite strike to begin on October 3, this development has arisen.

After the NEC meeting at the Presidential Villa, Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State spoke to reporters and asked for additional time so that the federal government could address all of the state’s problems.

The Council took note of the announcement by the Nigerian Labour Congress’s national leadership that the organization would go on an indefinite strike beginning on October 3, 2023.

Council additionally emphasized the implications of this strike on the economy and the nation, and urged members to continue engaging with the leadership of their individual states and appealing to them to shelve the action and continue the road they have been on with the federal government.

The NEC has shown genuine worry over the state of the country, and Labour’s efforts to address these challenges are much appreciated.

That’s why NEC’s making a public plea for patience so that it has the opportunity to handle labor issues. We also believe Mr. President will address the nation on October 1 and that some of the issues of Labour will be appropriately addressed in the President’s speech,” Mutfwang said.

He continued by saying that the organized labor needs to bring the discourse down to the state level since each state has its own set of concerns that need to be addressed in regards to the needs of the working class.

“So whatever happens, labor has a voice in all 36 states, and the FCT and NEC are urging for conversation to continue at the state levels, as each has its own unique set of concerns that need to be addressed in response to labor’s requests.

The state of the nation is really precarious right now. When they won power on May 29 in certain states, employees were already on strike. Workers are being asked to return to their jobs immediately because some of the problems had just been fixed. It will have a devastating effect on the economy.

So, while the NEC is deeply concerned about the state of the country, it is also asking for calm and tolerance. I’d like to think that the nation’s leaders are serious about resolving the problems facing the working class and the general public so that the country can progress,” he remarked.