THE National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Edo State government a 14-day notice to vacate its secretariat in Benin City.
This ultimatum was detailed in a statement signed by President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja following the NEC meeting held in Owerri, Imo State, yesterday. The deadline, which counts as 14 working days, will end on January 8, 2025.
The statement demands that the police leave the secretariat premises, return all confiscated items to the Congress, and refrain from interfering in trade union activities.
The NLC condemned the actions of the police and Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo for orchestrating the invasion of the NLC State Secretariat, describing it as a “brazen act of impunity” involving the ransacking of property and the illegal removal of items to impose an illegitimate leadership on workers.
The NLC warned that failure to comply would force the Congress to take unprecedented measures to defend workers’ and trade union rights. The NEC meeting also aimed to launch the Southeast region’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Bus Services and discuss critical issues affecting Nigerian workers and the general population.
The NLC expressed concern over the deteriorating socio-economic conditions caused by government policies, which have led to unprecedented hardship for Nigerians.
Additionally, they highlighted the ongoing cash scarcity affecting business activities, labeling it an unfortunate burden on the struggling populace. The union pointed out that Nigerians lose 5% of their funds each time they access cash, worsening the economic challenges faced by many.
The NLC called on the federal government to intervene immediately to address this systemic failure and protect citizens’ financial rights, urging the Central Bank Governor to ensure cash availability for small business transactions to stimulate economic growth.
The union emphasized that taxation should primarily generate revenue for government operations, stressing that any tax system must positively impact citizens’ lives. They asserted that a fair and equitable tax system should prioritize fiscal discipline, transparency, and effective use of tax funds for the public good.
The NLC criticized the current Tax Bill before the National Assembly, demanding its halt for broader consultation with Nigerian workers, arguing that the exclusion of organized labor undermines tax justice principles, stating, “If labor is not at the table, it is effectively on the menu.”
Lastly, the NLC expressed alarm over the escalating insecurity in the country, noting that Nigerians paid an alarming N2.23 trillion in ransom this year amid 51.8 million recorded crime incidents, with 614,937 lives lost and 2,235,954 kidnappings reported.
They called for urgent government action to protect lives and property, restore public confidence, and uphold the rule of law, emphasizing that many victims are workers.
