By Daniel Edu
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a threat to shut down the country’s economy without prior notice to the government if the price of petrol is increased again. The NLC president, Joe Ajaero, warned that the citizens have already suffered enough due to government policies and will not tolerate further increases in the pump price of petrol.
This statement comes in response to advice given by the Director of Trade Union Services at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Emmanuel Igbinosun, who suggested that the NLC should follow due process before embarking on any strike action.
Ajaero also criticized the alleged hijacking of the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s duties by the Inspector-General of Police and the Federal Ministry of Justice. He expressed concerns that the Ministry of Labour’s role in addressing issues related to labor disputes and wage policies was being taken over by other entities.
In response to the NLC’s threat, the Presidency stated that President Bola Tinubu is actively working to alleviate the economic challenges in the country. The Presidency emphasized that market forces, rather than government intervention, determine the prices of commodities like petrol due to deregulation.
The NLC’s warning sheds light on the ongoing tensions between the government and labor unions in Nigeria, particularly regarding economic policies and decisions that directly impact the citizens.
