Leaders of labour unions in the country failed on Friday to attend a meeting convened by the Federal government in a last minute effort to avert the nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Tuesday next week.
The meeting had been slated to take place at 3 pm on Friday, at the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Agbajabiamila, inside the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
But as of 5.30 pm, no leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had showed up even though the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr. Simon Lalong, was already seated.
The NLC and the TUC had directed their affiliate bodies to commence the nationwide industrial action on October 3, saying it would be a total shutdown of the system until the government shows demonstrable commitment to address their demands.
The unions had issued a joint statement on September 26 saying: “It’s going to be a total shutdown…until the government meets the demand of Nigerian workers, and in fact Nigerian masses.
The Federal government has refused to meaningfully engage and reach agreements with organised Labour on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol, which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigeria workers and masses.”
It could not be confirmed, as of Friday night, if the meeting has been rescheduled for another date.