BY GODWIN OBI
AS the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, embarks on a two-day warning strike today, the Federal Workers Forum, FWF, has vowed to shutdown Federal Secretariats across the country.
This was contained in a statement issued by Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of FWF and former Trade Union Congress, Chairman, Oyo State Chapter.
The statement read: “We at the Federal Workers Forum are in full support of the call by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for a two days national warning strike from Tuesday 5th to 6th September, 2023 over issues of government insensitivity to the plight of workers and the citizenry at large.
“As federal workers, we are also badly affected by the economic crisis visited on Nigerians as a result of the hike in the pump price of petrol, all in the name of subsidy removal.
“We had earlier written to the federal government to adjust our wages automatically inline with the existing economic realities but that has fallen on deaf hears.
“It is over three months now that fuel subsidy had been removed and fuel has equally been increased twice by over 300% , with a price shift from ₦187 to over ₦620 but salaries have remained the same. Federal workers within this period have gone through excruciatingly tough times. It has been stories of mass suffering and life has been made almost meaningless to the federal workers.
“Everything has been nauseating and hunger is now a way of life among the federal workers. As a matter of fact, federal workers have been financially embarrassed as against the provisions of the general order of the federal civil service rules and regulations.
“Federal government workers are no slaves,we therefore query this pathetic situation and call on all federal workers to ensure that the two days warning strike is successful.
“We call on the federal workers to ensure that all federal government Secretariat across the federation is shut down during the strike period. Workers are to also ensure that every other government offices, departments and agencies are shut down nationwide.
“We call on all industrial unions, organising federal workers to comply with the directives of the NLC.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) is also called upon to ensure the success of this strike action.
Meanwhile, today 5th 2023.
In a press statement signed by Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, Head of Media, MWUN informed that this action is in compliance with the 2-days warning strike as directed by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)
“The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) under the leadership of Comrade (Prince) Dr. Adewale Adeyanju, fnli, HFCPSP, is in notice of a communique of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) directing all its affiliates to embark on a TWO-DAY nation wide strike of a total shutdown scheduled for Tuesday, 5th September and Wednesday 6th September, 2023.
“This decision is due to the Federal Government’s refusal to engage and reach agreement with the Organised Labour on critical issues of the consequences of the unfortunate hike in the price of petrol, which has unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian Workers and the generality of the Nigerian citizens.
“The Maritime Workers Union as an affiliate of the NLC, are obliged to comply with the directive and has consequently instructed all our members in all ports, Jetties, terminals, and oil & gas platforms nation wide to partake on the TWO-WAY total shut down warning strike as directed by the NLC” the statement read
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