Labour Union Calls For Indefinite Strike From Oct. 3

The National Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Tommy Etim, noted that nothing can stop them from the indefinite strike starting from Oct. 3, adding that they have given enough time to the government but it did nothing.

"The government had been given more than enough time to meet our demands but they did nothing," he said, The Citizen reported. "The strike has been fixed, nothing will stop it, and if they (FG) like, they can go to court as usual. The only thing that can stop the strike is if they meet all our demands."

The TUC's President explained that Nigerians should expect a "total shutdown" across the nation, noting that it will be the "mother of all strikes."

Etim further slammed the federal government for planning to "sack 17,000 workers in this period when Nigerians are suffering great hardships."

A top National Labor Congress (NLC) official confirmed that the indefinite nationwide strike will start on Oct. 3 and nothing will make them change their mind unless the government meets their demand.

"No meeting or promise that would make us stop; the only thing that would make us stop is the fulfillment of all those demands, nothing else," the NLC official said.

The statement came one day after the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) urged the federal government to find a solution to make gas prices stable and affordable for common people in the country.

During the 36th annual general meeting/conference of the association under the theme of "Expanding gas utilization beyond imagination" on Tuesday, NALPGAM's National President, Abideen Olatunbosun noted if nothing is done, then gas will be available for only a few rich people.

"It is very vital for me to say that the galloping hike in the price of gas in recent times stands as a big challenge to LPG marketers," he said, Punch reported. "The government needs to find ways to ensure the stability of gas price as well as make gas available to the common Nigerians."

He continued, "If nothing is done to the increase in price, gas will soon be a commodity for the few rich in our society. As a country, we need to improve our gas utilization level. If we adopt gas, it will save our forest, improve the quality of our lifestyle and the economy will grow."

The president noted that the gas price hike is a concern for all. The gas prices increased after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced fuel subsidy removal on May 29.