Nigeria Labour Congress to Commence Strike Action in Response to Naira Scarcity

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has given a directive for public sector workers to go on strike starting from Wednesday next week. He has also instructed the affiliate unions of the Nigeria Labour Congress to be on standby for picketing exercises across all branches of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) nationwide. This directive comes as a response to the Federal Government’s cash swap policy, which the Central Working Committee members of the NLC had criticized last week.

Ajaero has stated that the decision to picket CBN branches is necessary because the Federal Government and the CBN have not shown any commitment to address the situation. He further lamented that despite the Supreme Court order allowing the old N500 and N1000 notes to circulate with the new notes until December 31 this year, the situation appears to be getting worse as workers cannot access cash to pay fares to work, nor can they buy food for their families.

The apex Labour union has also criticized the pricing irregularities in the petroleum sector, which was another cause for concern. They have given an ultimatum for the review of the cash crunch bedeviling the country, but have discovered to their dismay that not much effort has been made to ameliorate the situation. The government is still foot dragging on these issues, which have pushed the workers to the wall, and they have decided to take their destiny into their own hands.

Based on this, the workers are directed to stay at home too because people cannot eat, workers can no longer go to the office. The NLC has mobilized its workers for this exercise, and they are resolved that by Wednesday next week, all CBN branches will be picketed. This directive is a significant call to action, and it remains to be seen how the Federal Government will respond to the workers’ demands.