By Michael Oche
The Nigeria Labour Congress on Monday issued a 7-day ultimatum to the federal government to address current fuel and Naira scarcity in the country.
Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, disclosed this while briefing journalists at Labour House on the outcome of a meeting convened by the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the congress.
He said the Congress would declare nationwide strike and mass action if the two major problems are not addressed after seven days.
He said, “The Congress wishes to inform the federal government that we will no longer keep quiet on this issue of perennial fuel scarcity and arbitrary increase of petroleum products prices.
“The issue of cash crunch, the NLC is giving the federal government of Nigeria, the agencies of government including the Central Bank of Nigeria, and top banking institutions, seven working days to address the issue of the cash crunch. If they fail to do this at the expiration of the seven days, the Congress is directing all workers in the country to stay at home because it has become very difficult to even assess one naira to enter vehicles to your workplace.”
The NLC president said the policy has made it difficult for Nigerians to buy products, especially from traders who don’t have bank accounts.
According to him, Nigerians are frustrated by the consequences of the naira policy and the NLC can no longer keep quiet in the face of the harrowing experiences being faced by workers.
He said, “The federal government came out with the policy that even the old currency is still valid. What we have discovered is that even when the banks give you those old currencies, the traders are not accepting it. And even when you take it to the same banks, the banks are not accepting it either. We are being frustrated to a level that we can no longer keep quiet.”
Speaking on the current political situation in the country, the NLC president said urged the courts to do justice to the issues brought to them by aggrieved politicians
He said, “In terms of the political situation in the country. We are urging all gladiators to remember that the interest of this country is paramount to all of us and they should do everything reasonably possible to make sure that the system is maintained.”
“The courts are there where they will take their matters to and we urge the courts to do justice to the issues brought to them”, he said.
