After days of failed negotiations with government and harsh criticisms from some Nigerians, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday commenced its strike action to protest the recent hike in pump price of petrol.
On Tuesday, the Federal Government, outside negotiations, made two moves to stop the strike. First, it obtained a National Industrial Court order to restrain the NLC from going on strike. Secondly, it invoked the “no work, no pay” rule, asking ministries, departments and agencies to open a register this morning.
However, while the Federal Government’s plans seemed to have failed, the NLC strike also seems to have failed as a lot of Nigerians and organisations have dissociated themselves from the industrial action.
Although, some other Nigerians think that making the NLC irrelevant at this point is a sign of worse things to come.
Below are some of the diverse views being aired by Nigerians:
The way people were pulling out of the NLC strike, no one expected it to birth anything tangible. You can’t strike for its sake alone.
1. The NLC who don’t protest when students are at home, Doctors are not paid, Senate fail to pass the PIB, now want a strike
#NLCStrike=Wash
The NLC lost its credibility since 2012! Unfortunately, the current division in its leadership is biting them right at the ass!
This ‘strike’ is very divided. Half of Nigerians do not see the need for a strike! The NLC should hav given more room for negotiations.
This is despite the fact that the two factions of the union are not in agreement. The faction led by Comrade Joe Ajaero said they are not part of the strike, leaving only the Comrade Ayuba Wabba faction to the industrial action.
