The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has said that the two-day nationwide protest recently announced by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was not a collective agreement, as such, it will not be participating.
Tommy Etim, the Vice President of the TUC, made the announcement on Wednesday.
According to Etim, the NLC did not involve the union in the decision-making process before announcing the planned protest, which is scheduled for February 27 and 28. As a result, TUC members are not obligated to join the protest.
He further explained that both the NLC and the TUC had jointly issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government regarding concerns such as rising living costs, inflation, insecurity, and other challenges faced by the country.
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However, the ultimatum is set to expire on February 22, 2024.
Etim, said:
“We cannot join the protest because the decision was not taken collectively. It is very clear that by virtue of the letter, there is no way we can join the protest.
“We are writing to address a matter of mutual concern and our disappointment regarding the recent unilateral issuance of two days’ national protest with specified dates.
“You will recall that both centres issued a joint statement with a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.
“This ultimatum will expire on Thursday, February 22nd, and the right thing to do was for both leaders to review the situation and agree on the way forward prior to convening our respective NEC meetings.
“Our respective NEC is made up of highly intelligent individuals who are desirous that we both work together always in our collective interest.
“Even if we didn’t anticipate our NEC decision meetings, it is our responsibility as leaders to harmonise our positions before jointly going to the press.
“It was our understanding that decisions of such magnitude would be made collectively, ensuring that the interests and perspectives of all parties involved are duly considered.
“This is the way other leaders of both centres have worked together from the time of SECSCAN to when TUC was formally registered.”
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