Organised Labour Didn’t Sell Out – NLC

Contrary to assumption in certain quarters of a possible sell-out during the nationwide strike by the organised labour in the state, the state congress of the Nigeria Labour Congress has dismissed such assumption as lacking any substantive prove of evidence.

According to a report by the NLC official, the organised labour actually took part in the nationwide strike with full compliance with the national directive of the two joint NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The statement disclosed that the organised labour in the state were aware of the volatile nature of the state and avoided a situation where militants or miscreants will take undue advantage of the situation to hijack the strike, adding that all affiliate unions were briefed on the modality of the strike in the state.

The official said NLC in the state gave out the sum of N20,000 to each union for mobilisation and refreshment of members of their union during the strike, stressing that the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress gave that money from its purse in addition to the fund received from the national secretariat of the congress.

The statement described the leadership of the congress in the state as mature, well informed and well articulated leadership, out to protect the interest of the workers and the downtrodden.

The statement added that the organised labour never sold out during the fuel subsidy nationwide strike, but effectively mobilised the various unions to embark on peaceful protest on the streets of the state, stressing that “there was full compliance, shops, banks, offices and other business centres were fully closed down in the state.

Philip Okparaji