NUC, TUC shun meeting with FG as Oct 3 nationwide strike looms
Ahead of proposed indefinite strike by Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), a scheduled meeting between the Federal Government and organised labour to prevent the nationwide strike slated for next Tuesday failed to hold on Friday.
Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, and Minister of Labour and Employment, Hon Simon Lalong, were meant to meet with Labour leaders at the State House, Abuja, from about 3pm on Friday, but the meeting failed to hold because the Labour leaders including the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, refused to show up.
Lalong was sighted at the office of the Chief of Staff Gbajabiamila in preparation for the meeting, but as at about 5:30pm, the expected Labour leaders had not shown up while efforts to get reason for their absence were unsuccessful Friday night.
Sources close to the office of the Chief of Staff, however, informed the meeting had been rescheduled for some time over the weekend, saying he could not ascertain the particular day.
“They have to disperse since the NLC and TUC people didn’t show up. There must have been a reason and I believe they would have communicated their reasons to those waiting for them. I learned though that the meeting has been rescheduled for sometime during the weekend, but I don’t know which day”, the source said.
The meeting, which was scheduled for Friday, 12 noon at Aso Villa, Conference Room of the Office of the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, was later shifted to evening, to allow NLC and TUC to reach their leaders outside Abuja.
According to Vanguard sources, the NLC and its TUC counterpart received the government’s invitation this morning through the ministry of labour and employment.
The invitation letter dated September 29 , was signed on behalf of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, by the Director, Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations, Emmanuel Igbinosun.
The letter titled “Impending labour union strike invitation to a meeting”, read in part: “I bring you greetings from the Honourable Ministers of Labour and Employment.
“I am directed to invite the leadership of the Trade Union Congress Nigeria (TUC) for a meeting with the Chief of Staff to Mr. President on the above subject, scheduled as follows:
“Date: Friday, September 294, 2023; Time: 12 noon. Venue: Aso Villa, Conference Room of the Office of the Chief of Staff to Mr. President.
“Please be assured of the kind regards of the Hon. Minister of Labour and Employment.”
However, in a response to the Minister, the two labour centres in a letter dated September 29, requested for a new date next week.
The letter signed by Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC’s General Secretary and Nuhu Toro, TUC’s Secretary General, titled “R-impending labour union strike: Invitation to meeting”, read: “We extend our warm regards to you and the entire team at your Ministry.
“We wish to express our sincere regrets for our inability to attend the proposed meeting between us and the Federal Government, scheduled for today the 29th Day of September due to already scheduled engagements our officials have outside Abuja.
“Regrettably, the short notice provided for this meeting has posed significant logistical challenges for the majority of our leadership, rendering their participation unfeasible at this time.
“In light of this, and in the interest of ensuring that any discussions held are representative of the NLC’s and TUC’s collective stance, we find it imperative to request the rescheduling of the meeting.
“We trust that this request for a rescheduled meeting will be taken into consideration, and we look forward to your understanding in this matter.”
