TUC Gives Seven-day Strike Notice Over Electricity, Fuel Price Hike

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has handed down a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to reverse its decision to raise the price of fuel and also increase electricity tariff in the country.

This comes as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) meets tomorrow over the same issue.

The two bodies might agree on the same date for commencement of the strike.

In a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari with the heading, ‘We cannot bear the burden any longer, issuance of seven days ultimatum’, and signed by TUC President and Secretary-General, Quadri Olaleye and Musa Lawal, the labour centre said the communication was aimed at “bringing the President up to speed on some critical national developments that are impacting the mass of the people negatively.”

It listed other grievances to include non-implementation of the new national minimum wage by most of the state governments, Federal Government’s alleged inability to create and sustain uniform salary calendar for transparency, corruption in parastatals and purported shadiness in the handling of COVID-19 funds.

Rising from its meeting, TUC demanded that the government should take immediate steps to overturn the increase in prices as it affects electricity, petrol and all other social services in the country within seven days.

It also charged the government to provide adequate and qualitative healthcare and education for all, as well as protect the poor and the vulnerable across the federation.

The union added: “These demands are made in good faith, and to save the dying masses and the vulnerable in our society. In the event of not showing empathy for this class of people by adhering to above demands, we shall, together with our civil societies and allies, commence an indefinite industrial action and national protest from Wednesday, September 23, 2020.”