Labour threaten to shut down depots, power plants

THE United Labour Congress (ULC) has threatened to shut depots and power plants unless the federal government meets its demand before 12 mid-night on Friday, 15th September 2017.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday at the ULC Secretariat in Lagos, the National President, ULC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, stated that the 7-day ultimatum given to the federal government will expire on Friday by 12 mid-night after which the labour union will decide when the strike action will commence.

According to him, “the ultimatum given to the federal government will expire on Friday by 12 mid-night. It is our responsibility to decide when the strike action would commence. We will shut depots, power stations and the economy.

“It is important to inform you that the official response we received from the federal government on this matter vide a letter from the Federal Ministry of Labour fell grossly short of addressing the issues raised by us and which warranted an ultimatum in the first instance.

“Congress therefore held an emergency meeting which deliberated on the said letter and was roundly found unsatisfactory and therefore unacceptable by the organ of the federation as our demands were not met. It therefore resolved to press on with the strike.”

He reiterated the union’s demand to include removal of the Army and Police in workplaces and factory premises, setting up of a task force immediately to carry out factory inspections as most of the factories are death traps.

He also emphasized the immediate review of the privatisation 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.

“Government should immediately prevail on AMCON and Barrister Nwaobike (SAN); the receiver manager of Delta Steel Company Ovwian Aladja who short-paid workers by 75 per cent to quickly rectify it and repay the deficit; and the immediate payment of all the arrears of salaries owed Nigerian workers at all levels of Government without exception,” he reiterated.

“The roads leading to all the Petroleum refineries and Depots nation-wide be repaired by the Government to avoid the present carnage of lives, wastage of products and properties on these roads.

“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 clime 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. That if these demands are not met on or before Friday the 15th of September, the ULC shall embark on industrial actions to assist your Government respect the interests of workers and the citizenry,” he said.