.jpeg)
By: News Peddlers
 |
| The Trade Union Congress |
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) chapter in Ondo has urged residents to get ready for the nationwide strike that will be held in protest of the high cost of living brought on by the increase in petrol prices.
Ondo TUC chairman Clement Fatuase issued the demand while outlining the labour leaders' strategies for organising employees for the expected strike action in Akure.
As a result of the increase in petrol costs and other commodity and food prices, Mr Fatuase claimed that the environment and state employees are already "charged."
“It is so charged that nearly everybody has picked up the Boy Scout motto, ‘be Prepared’,” he said on Sunday. “We are also ready. Everyone is affected, and maybe you’re not, but we are prepared.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu to reserve all anti-poor policies of the current administration or face an indefinite strike action beginning on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. This was in response to the effects of fuel price increases and rising inflation in the country.
In addition, the NLC had instructed all of its affiliates, state councils, and civil society groups to organise workers for a protracted strike and large-scale demonstrations if the government did not agree to its demands.
The state's labour officials will gather on Monday to plan ahead for the strike, according to Mr. Fatuase.
"We are holding a strategic meeting tomorrow (Monday), and at that time, we will present all of our plans. However, what I do know is that the country's current situation is extremely tense."
Mr. Fatuase said the industrial action has become important since it had always been the language the government understood, even if he noted that the scheduled strike might not address the current concerns of the Nigerian people.
"Even if the strike might not address any issues, we won't be hesitant to communicate with the government or employers in that language if that is the only one they can comprehend.
The state's organised labour had expressed their discontent with the country's hardship brought on by the hike in fuel prices at the pump, which has increased the price of food products.
The increase in the price of petrol following the elimination of subsidies was dubbed "wicked" by the union, which is made up of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and Joint Negotiating Council, without any palliatives being put in place to lessen its impact on the Nigerian people.