The United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC) has commenced a nationwide strike beginning today, 18th September, 2017.
The union has embarked on this strike based on the following demands;
- Failure of the Government to register the union.
- Failure to address issues pertaining to Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
- Deplorable state of Nigerian roads.
- Minimum wage and other demands.
The affiliated unions of ULC include;
- Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG)
- Electricity Workers.
- Nigerian Union of Mine Workers.
- National Union of Banks.
- Insurance and Financial Institutions employees.
- Association of Nigerian aviation professionals, and others.
Kaduna state ULC chairman, Ephraim James confirmed that the nationwide industrial action commenced at midnight Monday, September 18, 2017 until further notice.
The union also demanded that “the Federal Government ban the stationing of the Army and Police in our workplaces and factory premises.”
“Instead they should demand that the Federal Ministry of Labour sets up a task force immediately for factory inspections as most of the factories are death traps.”
They demanded that “an immediate review of the Privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to save Nigerians the agony of suffering under the suffocating darkness which the GENCOs and DISCOs have foisted on the nation and immediately prevail on AMCON and Barrister Nwaobike (SAN); the receiver manager of Delta Steel Company Ovwian Aladja who short-paid workers by 75% to quickly rectify it and repay the deficit”.
“The immediate payment of all the arrears of salaries owed Nigerian workers at all levels of Government without exception.”
Also that “the Federal Government honours its 2009 agreement with University Lecturers under the umbrella of ASUU quickly and commences negotiations with them on new issues so that our universities will re-open.”
“The roads leading to all the Petroleum refineries and Depots nation-wide are to be repaired by the Government to avoid the present loss of lives, wastage of products and properties on these roads.
“That the proposed Bill at the National Assembly seeking to control free speech couched under the guise of the Bill against hate speech but has the real intention of protecting the ruling elite from being held accountable by the citizenry”.
“We therefore demand the discontinuance of that obnoxious Bill by whoever sponsored it”.
“The withholding of registration certificate of the ULC be stopped and the certificate released forthwith so that the nation’s Industrial Relations will be made more inclusive and robust”.
“The immediate inclusion of all representatives of labour in the various committees, Agencies and Directorates of Government and not singling out just one centre for these purposes negating the tenets of the nation’s Laws. Any of such appointments that have been done contrary to this, we demand an immediate reversal.”
“The immediate inauguration of the national minimum wage negotiating committee in line with the above so that it can commence sitting instantly.”
All these demands were listed n a statement signed by Mr Joe Ajaero, President of the ULC.