Public and private sector workers in Nigeria returned to their various workplaces on Thursday after a largely successful two-day industrial action following directives from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.
Workplaces were shut down across Nigeria’s 36 states and the capital city Abuja on Tuesday and Wednesday. While the strike was observed strictly in some states, it wasn’t in others.
The NLC and TUC suspended the strike Wednesday night after the executives of both unions brokered a deal with the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu and other top government officials on behalf of the federal government.
The labour unions, in a memo jointly signed by the national secretaries Emmanuel Ugboaja [NLC] and Nuhu Toro [TUC], said the union resolved to suspend the strike after a “thorough review of the offers presented by the federal government through the National Security Adviser.”
The NSA tendered an apology to the unions for the assault meted out to the NLC President Joe Ajaero, which was the reason for the strike action.
Ribadu assured that an investigation has commenced on the matter, adding that some of Ajaero’s attackers are already cooling off in a police cell.
“We were given high assurances that all others will be fished out and prosecuted,” the labour unions said.
The NLC/TUC commended Nigerian workers for their “unwavering commitment and tenacity, which contributed to the success of the nationwide strike.”
