In a significant development, the leadership of organized labour has decided to suspend the ongoing nationwide indefinite strike initiated on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
The announcement of the suspension came after a meeting between the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, held on the evening of Wednesday, November 15, 2023. Commencing a few minutes past 7 p.m., the meeting lasted nearly an hour.
The National Deputy Vice President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, conveyed the decision to suspend the strike, citing the trust placed in the National Security Adviser. "The NEC of the NLC and the TUC have suspended the strike. We did this based on our trust in the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who gave us his words," Etim stated. Similarly, the General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employee (AUPCTRE), Comrade Sikiru Waheed, confirmed the development to journalists, expressing gratitude for the commitment of all involved in the industrial action.
The organized labor had resorted to the nationwide strike to compel the federal government to take decisive action following an incident in Imo State where NLC president Joe Ajaero was assaulted. Ajaero and other labor leaders staged a protest in Owerri, the Imo State capital, on November 1, rallying workers against the state government's alleged violation of their rights. However, security operatives intervened, leading to Ajaero being allegedly handed over to thugs who assaulted him.
The decision to suspend the strike followed a joint NEC session of NLC and TUC, considering the plea of the Federal Government during a meeting at the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. As a result, the labor movement directed workers to resume their official functions on Thursday, November 16, 2023.
The labor movement had made several demands to the Federal Government, including a nationwide strike and the dismissal of the Area Commander implicated in the attack against Ajaero. Last week, the NLC and TUC picketed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, disrupting access and flights as a warning to the government. The strike, which began on Tuesday, paralyzed commercial activities nationwide.
The National Security Adviser later appealed to the labor leadership to de-escalate tensions, revealing that two suspects connected to the attack in Imo had been arrested.
