NLC Schedules Nationwide Strike on August 14 if the FG Refuses to Drop Lawsuit

Following the suspension of the industrial action carried out on Wednesday, the union decided to call it off after the Tinubu administration called top leaders to a closed-door meeting to settle their grievances. 

However, it seems the meeting was futile as members of the union have decided to embark on yet another strike from August 14 if their leaders were summoned for contempt of court orders.

The Nigeria Labour Congress said that it was embarking on the next industrial action because of the application that was filed against labour leaders on Wednesday by the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The union has also said that it will use other measures if the Federal Government doesn’t withdraw the lawsuit filed against the union for disobeying court orders.

This announcement came after the NLC President, Joe Ajaero had a meeting with the union’s National Executive Council on Thursday night in Abuja.

To avert industrial action by the labour movement last month, the FG obtained a ruling from the National Industrial Court preventing the NLC and the Trade Union Congress from going on any strike action over issues relating to "removal of fuel subsidy, hike in petrol prices and consequential increase in the cost of living," pending the outcome of the suit.

Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, urged the NLC in a statement to withdraw the seven-day notice it issued on its plan to begin nationwide industrial action on August 2 if labour union demands were not met.

In a press release issued on July 26, the justice ministry warned that the union's planned strike would be considered contempt of court, which is punishable by imprisonment.

According to the Federal Government, such a strike would amount to self-help because the case was already in court.

However, unsatisfied with the long negotiating process with the FG and the delay in implementing palliatives to alleviate the discomfort of subsidy removal, organized labour called a nationwide protest regardless of the court order.