The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Sunday suspended its nationwide strike called to protest the government’s decision to increase pump price of petrol and hike in electricity tariffs.
The NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, said the union resolved to suspend the strike with immediate effect.
He at the end of an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja, called to review the impact of the strike.
A communique also signed by the General Secretary, Peter Ozo-Eson, said after due consultation with its constituents and affiliates, the NLC also resolved to resume negotiations with government on the twin issues of the hike in electricity tariff and an increase in the pump price of petroleum products as well as any other issue that may arise during the meeting.
Negotiations had stalemated after the government refused to listen to the NLC on its demands.
Mr. Wabba said the labour movement remained committed to genuine dialogue within the framework of internationally established and recognized principles of representation.
“The Congress will continue to resist wrong legislations, policies and programmes and will always act in the best interest of Nigerians as it remains the only pan-Nigerian organisation not affected by religion, region, creed, partisanship or primordial sentiments,” the NLC president said.
During the meeting on Sunday, he said NEC had reviewed the protest action and its impact across the nation, noting the sacrifices of its members, particularly responses from Nigerians, government’s attitude and the brutality of the police in some states where labour leaders were intimidated, harassed, arrested and detained unjustly.
Despite the decision to suspend the strike action, the NLC president said NEC was still convinced that the protest was still the best, as it helped in highlighting the twin issues of unjustified and illegal hike in electricity tariff and increase in the pump price of petroleum products.
